(UPDATE) REACHING the votes required to send impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate for trial was “all but certain,” Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said on Monday.
“We’re expecting the vice president to be impeached next week,” Ridon said. “So the 106 is all but certain with just a question of how many more votes we will get.” Ridon is a member of the House Committee on Justice which, in a hearing on Monday, unanimously approved impeachment articles against Duterte. The vote was 55 of 55. The committee chairman, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, was not part of the voting.
The Constitution requires a vote of at least one-third of all House members to send impeachment articles to the Senate for trial, which means 106 votes are needed at the plenary.
“I guess we already have 55, 56 votes ... so the next half of 106 is not going to be difficult to surmount. We will have the numbers by next week,” Ridon said.
In its hearing on Monday, the committee approved a report with the resolution setting forth impeachment articles against Duterte. These documents will be sent to the plenary, which will decide whether to send impeachment articles to the Senate for trial.
Under the Constitution, only the House has the power to initiate impeachment cases and only the Senate can conduct an impeachment trial.
On Wednesday, the committee, by a unanimous vote, said there was probable cause with respect to the two impeachment complaints against Duterte.
In an interview at the House on Monday, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said four impeachment articles were approved by the committee. These articles are on alleged misuse or abuse of confidential funds, on alleged unexplained wealth, and alleged bribery, graft and corruption. Another was in connection with Duterte’s kill remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Leyte 1st District Rep. and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte has denied making an assassination threat.
In her answer to the complaints, she said that the complaints failed to show “any shred of proof” that a contract to kill ever existed. “Instead, complainants rely on exaggerated conclusions dressed up as fact.” “The rest of the allegations, including the annexes and so-called evidence attached to the impeachment complaints, are specifically denied for being false, misleading, impertinent, and mere conclusions of fact and law,” her response said.
In her opening remarks in the hearing on Monday, Luistro said in Filipino and English, “We followed the Constitution. We did not rush; we did not take shortcuts. We honored the process.” Luistro emphasized on Sunday that the committee’s work reflected a careful, evidence-based process. “This is not about politics,” she said.
Duty to oppose
Meanwhile, Sen. Robinhood Padilla said minority bloc senators have a duty to oppose the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court if the House of Representatives transmits the articles of impeachment against Duterte.
“That’s natural [thing to do]. That’s the role of the minority,” Padilla said in Filipino in a chance interview.
His view, however, was not shared by other members of the bloc, composed of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, and Sens. Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta and Joel Villanueva.
Marcos said “there’s no doubt” that the articles of impeachment will be elevated to the Senate, but she dismissed Padilla’s remarks that their bloc will automatically oppose the convening of the impeachment court.
“We haven’t discussed that yet. But Robin has been very vocal,” Marcos said.
Estrada said there was no such agreement. “Walang ganun (There’s no such thing like that),” he said when asked about Padilla’s statement.
Cayetano said, “We will follow all rules and procedures. There are many lawyers in the minority. We will follow what is right. We will follow the law.” Escudero, Cayetano, and Marcoleta are lawyers.
Senate President Vicente III said the chamber is “ready” for any eventuality in case the House of Representatives transmits the articles of impeachment within the week.
“We will be ready for any eventuality. And I’m speaking for most of the members of the Senate,” Sotto said in a chance interview.
The senator said that once the Senate receives the articles of impeachment, it will convene as Senate impeachment court.
“That is part of our work. That is part of our job as senators. We must follow the Constitution. It’s simple as that — which is to convene [as an impeachment court],” said Sotto, who will serve as the presiding officer.
He declined to say what he would do if a senator opposes the convening of the court.
“As of now everything is speculative. Let’s just wait [to see what will happen]. Let’s be a little more patient,” he said.
