Solons: No talks yet on Sara Duterte impeachment

With only five session days remaining in the year, House leaders said  Tuesday that there have been no discussions among administration  lawmakers on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice  President Sara Duterte.

“We really,  honestly, haven't discussed supporting the impeachment complaint. In fact, the two complaints are still with the Office of the Secretary-General. It is yet to be sent to the Speaker,” said House Deputy  Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V.

House Quad Committee Lead Chairperson Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte echoed Ortega’s remarks, emphasizing that the House is currently focused on other priorities, including investigations into drug war deaths during former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, crimes linked to  Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), and scrutiny of the Vice  President’s budget.

“Wala pa kaming napag-uusapan sa majority [bloc]. I haven’t even seen a document seeking signatures [in support of the impeachment]. I’ve been asked if I already signed such, but I haven’t encountered such a document," Barbers said.

“Hindi pa pinag-uusapan [iyong impeachment against the Vice President],” Barbers added.

Under the law, only one impeachment complaint may be filed against the same official within a year.

The two impeachment complaints against Vice  President Duterte—alleging misuse of confidential funds—will only fall under this timeline if the House takes action on them during a plenary session.

If at least one-third of the over 300 House members endorse an impeachment complaint, it will be sent to the Senate, which will serve as the impeachment court.

However, with the midterm elections scheduled for May 2025, the composition of the Senate—which would act as senator-judges—could change during the course of an impeachment trial.

On Monday, the Vice President said she welcomed the impeachment complaints filed against her.

“So, okay din 'yung impeachment case dahil ako lang ang tinitira doon, ako lang iniimbestigahan noon. Ako lang ang inaatake ng impeachment case," said Duterte. "Hindi na kasali ang nga kasamahan ko sa OVP and mga dati kong kasama sa DepEd. Masagot na ng final kung ano 'yung mga inaakusa nila sa akin.”

(So, it’s okay they filed an impeachment case since I’ll only be the one who's being attacked. I’ll only be the one who's being investigated. I’ll only be the one who is being attacked in the impeachment case. My staff in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education will no longer be involved. I can finally answer what they are accusing me of.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News