‘Lawmakers trying to fast-track 3 impeach complaints vs Sara’

MANILA, Philippines — With time running out, officials and members of the House of Representatives are trying to expedite the handling of three impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, an administrative official of the chamber said yesterday.

“We are still looking for the fast-track process, which will override these requirements (for impeachment),” House secretary-general Reginald Velasco told reporters in a chance interview.

He pointed out that should at least 103 congressmen sign one of three impeachment complaints, then any more House deliberations would be dispensed with.

“Then it goes directly to the Senate. It doesn’t have to go through the House committee on justice,” Velasco explained.

He said there may no longer be a fourth impeachment complaint against the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, but this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s off the hook, especially when 103 legislators endorse the suit.

By then, the Senate will be forced to form itself into an impeachment court.

Congress will be having its break on Feb. 7 to give way to the campaign period of congressmen running in their districts, as well as lawmakers representing party-list groups, along with 12 members of the Senate who will all be elected on May 12 this year.

Velasco, nevertheless, acknowledged that the three impeachment complaints are in his office, and vowed to act on them any time this week, which may finally be referred to the office of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“The complaints are still with me, but we have to act on it this week. We will act on it this week,” he said, adding they are also giving other potential complainants more time to file their impeachment suits and “transmit the impeachment complaints within this week.”

Velasco also disclosed that the lack of endorsers ties the hands of lawmakers to make the impeachment complaints prosper. “We have yet to receive additional endorsers from the ranks of congressmen on the three impeachment complaints.”

Aside from the fact that it’s already campaign fever and elections are just around the corner, Velasco admitted that the absence of additional endorsers from the ranks of congressmen has left the impeachment complaints against Duterte untouched.

“There’s no instruction to me to delay the impeachment complaints,” he clarified.

‘Palace won’t interfere’

Malacañang is keeping its hands off the efforts to impeach the Vice President, saying the House of Representatives has the say on the matter.

“The power to initiate and act on impeachment complaints is the sole prerogative of the House of Representatives,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement issued yesterday.

President Marcos is opposed to the impeachment of Duterte, saying it is just a waste of time and will not make any difference in the lives of Filipinos.

Third impeach raps endorsed

Before Christmas in December 2024, a representative of the third district of Camarines Sur endorsed the third impeachment complaint filed against Duterte before the House of Representatives.

“This decision is not made lightly, but with a deep sense of responsibility to ensure accountability at the highest levels of government,” Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. of the once-powerful Liberal Party said, joining other militant groups in calling for Duterte’s immediate impeachment.

The Bicolano lawmaker’s decision to endorse stemmed from, among others, Duterte’s public meltdown in November 2024, where she threatened to have Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta and Romualdez killed.

“Such conduct undermines public trust, threatens the stability of our democratic system and sets a dangerous precedent for behavior unbecoming of a public official,” Bordado, an assistant minority leader in the House’s official opposition bloc, explained.

The latest impeachment complaint, spearheaded by a coalition of Catholic priests and civil society groups, accuses Duterte of undermining democratic principles, violating public trust and betraying the Constitution.

In a statement, Bordado stressed the gravity of the decision, emphasizing the need to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of democratic institutions.

He cited several contentious actions and statements by Duterte as grounds for impeachment.

Among these are her alleged incendiary remarks, including threats against the President, his family and the House Speaker, which he described as “deeply troubling.”

Bordado also pointed to Duterte’s refusal to appear before legislative inquiries into allegations of fund misuse and her abrupt resignation as education secretary. He argued that these actions have further eroded confidence in her capacity to serve with transparency and integrity.

The complaint, co-endorsed by Deputy Minority Leader Lex Colada of the AAMBIS-OWA party-list, describes the Vice President’s actions as destabilizing and contrary to constitutional mandates. The complainants asserted that impeachment is both a constitutional and moral obligation of Congress.

“Her inflammatory statements and apparent disregard for transparency and due process constitute grounds for impeachment,” Bordado stated, adding that the move is not a partisan attack, but a constitutional mechanism to address significant breaches of public trust.

Bordado joins other progressive lawmakers, including Reps. France Castro (ACT Teachers), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), in urging Congress to act decisively.

“No one – regardless of rank or political influence – is above the law,” he asserted. — Alexis Romero, Emmanuel Tupas