MANILA, Philippines — More than 200 lawmakers have expressed support for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte ahead of a scheduled House of Representatives vote on Monday, according to two lawmakers interviewed on Sunday.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said at least 225 lawmakers support transmitting the impeachment complaint to the Senate, exceeding the constitutional requirement of one-third of House members needed to elevate the case for trial.
“We are ready to impeach her,” Ridon, a member of the House justice committee, said in a phone interview.
The House plenary is expected to debate and vote on the impeachment report, which the justice committee endorsed last week following a two-month inquiry into allegations against Duterte.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor also said he expects more than the required number of lawmakers to support the complaint.
“I’m confident that there will be a sufficient number, that more than one-third of all the members will vote in favor of the impeachment,” Defensor said in a phone interview.
Under the Constitution, at least one-third of the House membership, or 106 lawmakers, must approve the impeachment complaint before the Senate can convene as an impeachment court. A conviction would remove Duterte from office and disqualify her from holding public office in the future.
Ridon said support for the impeachment has increased in recent days and described the evidence against Duterte as substantial.
The impeachment case follows a separate 2025 impeachment complaint against Duterte that 215 lawmakers endorsed. Duterte challenged that proceeding before the Supreme Court, which ruled that lawmakers violated a constitutional provision prohibiting more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within one year.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate could convene as an impeachment court as early as Wednesday if the House transmits the articles of impeachment on Tuesday.
“If there will be voting at the House [today], I expect it will be transmitted to us on Tuesday,” Gatchalian told reporters. He said Senate President Vicente Sotto III intends to convene the impeachment court immediately after receiving the complaint.
Gatchalian also noted that the Supreme Court previously ruled that the timing of impeachment proceedings remains subject to the Senate’s discretion as long as actions occur within reasonable grounds.
Defensor said Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House justice committee, is expected to sponsor the impeachment report during plenary deliberations.
“The plenary will allow manifestations from members in support or against the committee report,” Defensor said.
He added that lawmakers opposing the impeachment would no longer have the opportunity to present evidence during plenary proceedings because the committee hearings had already concluded.
The impeachment complaint cites allegations including bribery, unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential funds, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Witness testimony and financial records presented during committee hearings formed part of the evidence cited by lawmakers. The Commission on Audit also flagged Duterte’s use of confidential funds during her tenure as vice president and education secretary.
Duterte has declined to participate in the House justice committee hearings and has described the impeachment effort as politically motivated.
Political science professor Ederson Tapia said public perception of the case was influenced by the response to the allegations.
“Many of the accusations were answered politically rather than through sustained factual rebuttal,” Tapia said.
Ridon said the House is prepared to defend the impeachment case before the Senate.
“We have an ironclad case against the vice president,” he said.
