A lawmaker from the House of Representatives expressed confidence that the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte will be approved as early as next week, saying the required votes are already secured despite claims of wavering support.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said in an interview that the numbers are “all but certain,” with lawmakers aiming to meet or even exceed the 106 votes needed to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
“We are expecting the Vice President to be impeached next week… the 106 is all but certain. It’s just a question of how many more votes we will get,” he said.
He also dismissed circulating reports that some legislators had withdrawn their backing, calling the claims misleading and pointing out inaccuracies in the names being cited.
“If that withdrawal is true, I have one question: is there a congressman named Bier Rodriguez? None,” he said, noting that only three members of the current House carry the Rodriguez surname.
Ridon, who sits on the House Committee on Justice, maintained that support for the impeachment remains intact following the panel’s unanimous approval of the committee report and Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.
The justice panel earlier voted 55-0 to adopt the report, concluding that there is probable cause to charge the Vice President with graft, constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
The case is now set to move to the House plenary, where lawmakers will vote on whether to elevate the impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial.