The period to deliberate on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte is “a bit tight,” an official of the House committee on justice said yesterday.
“One of the issues is the low number of session days. We will be encountering that if the complaints go the route of the Committee on Justice,” panel vice chairman and Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said in a radio interview.
“I’m sorry to admit that the period is a bit tight,” he added.
The Makabayan bloc, which endorsed the second impeachment case against Duterte on the grounds of alleged betrayal of public trust, aims to reach by Monday the target signature count of one-third of the House members to hasten the process.
“We need to gather 106 signatures, hopefully by Monday, so the impeachment complaints can be endorsed to the Senate. That is the quickest way to do it without violating the Constitution,” former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro earlier said that if an impeachment complaint can get 106 votes, it can be endorsed to the Senate as early as January for a trial that can be held from February to April.
Flores, however, said the House justice panel needs to give the respondent 10 days to address the complaints.
The committee has 60 days to report to the plenary its recommendation whether to dismiss the complaint or to send it to the Senate, assuming the required 106 signatures is not achieved earlier.
Flores added lawmakers will also be busy with preparations for the 2025 elections
House leaders, however, said the Lower Chamber is constitutionally obligated to take action on the impeachment complaints.
“We have the constitutional duty, and we’re bound by that mandate to act on all impeachment complaints filed with the House,” Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said.
Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, while personally hesitant about pursuing the impeachment, acknowledged the mandate Congress must uphold.
“From my personal point of view, I’m not inclined to push for an impeachment process because that is also the call of the President,” she said.
“But from a purely constitutional point of view, that is part of our mandate. We have no choice but to process this complaint,” Roman added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier urged his congressional allies to abandon plans for an impeachment complaint against Duterte, arguing it would not benefit Filipinos and would distract Congress from more pressing national issues.
Acidre said the impeachment filing aligns with the House’s ongoing efforts to uphold accountability.
“This will be a careful balancing act on the part of the leadership and the part of the House,” he said.
