MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice on Wednesday declared the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte sufficient in substance, adding to the third complaint that earlier passed the same test.
The panel is expected to require Duterte to answer both complaints within a non-extendible period of 10 calendar days from receipt of notice.
A total of 54 lawmakers voted to find the fourth complaint, filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera, sufficient in substance, with only Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay voting against it. No member abstained. The same number earlier voted to declare the third complaint, filed by a group of clergymen and lawyers, also sufficient.
San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora moved to issue notice to the Vice President, which was approved by committee chair Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro without objection.
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima endorsed the third complaint, while Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. sponsored the fourth.
Earlier, the committee dismissed the first complaint for violating the one-year bar rule, while the second complaint was withdrawn by its proponents to support the third filing.
Under House rules, once a complaint is deemed sufficient in substance, the respondent is given 10 days to reply. The committee must then conduct hearings and submit its report and recommendation to the plenary within 60 session days. A one-third vote of all House members is required to approve a recommendation to impeach and transmit the articles to the Senate.
During deliberations, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez questioned the panel’s jurisdiction over alleged acts committed when Duterte concurrently served as education secretary. However, Manila Rep. Joel Chua and Abante argued that the Vice President should be treated as a single impeachable official regardless of the position she held while in public service.