MANILA, Philippines — As the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte move to the House plenary, insiders and veteran lawmakers are expressing high confidence that the chamber will not only meet the required one-third threshold but could potentially gather over 200 votes to transmit the case to the Senate.
The surge in confidence follows the House Committee on Justice’s unanimous 55-0 approval of the committee report on May 4, 2026. Sources within the House suggest that the momentum mirrors the support seen during previous historic impeachment efforts, with some lawmakers predicting they may match or exceed the 215 signatures gathered during the 2025 bid.
Under the Philippine Constitution, only one-third of the total membership of the House (approximately 106 of 318 members) is needed to immediately send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
- Current Standing: 55 members of the Justice Committee have already gone on record in favor.
- Insiders’ Estimate: Some sources claim that over 200 signatures have already been secured behind the scenes, while others believe the final tally will be finalized by the second week of May.
- Plenary Schedule: The House is expected to hold a decisive plenary vote by May 11, 2026.
The consolidated complaint against the Vice President is built on several high-stakes allegations that surfaced during months of committee hearings:
- Misuse of Confidential Funds: Alleged irregular liquidation of over ₱600 million across the OVP and DepEd.
- Unexplained Wealth: Discrepancies in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
- Threats Against High Officials: Testimonies regarding alleged threats made toward President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
- Betrayal of Public Trust: General allegations of bribery and abuse of power.
The referral of the complaint to the Justice Committee in February 2026 officially triggered the one-year ban on filing any other impeachment cases against the Vice President. This move effectively locked in the current set of charges as the primary legal challenge to her office for the remainder of the year.
While the Vice President has submitted a “Consolidated Verified Answer Ad Cautelam” denying the charges, the House leadership appears poised to move forward. “The 106 votes are all but certain,” noted Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon. “The only question now is how many more lawmakers will add their names to the history books.”