A senior lawmaker on Thursday said support within the House of Representatives for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte continues to grow, with the number of lawmakers expected to vote in favor possibly reaching as high as 180.
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said the constitutional requirement of one-third of House members, or at least 106 votes, appears to have already been secured even during the early stages of the impeachment proceedings.
The House official made the statement after the House Committee on Justice found probable cause in two impeachment complaints and approved the corresponding Articles of Impeachment for plenary consideration on May 11.
Lawmakers have since been given time to review the articles and supporting evidence before the scheduled floor vote.
Speaking in a radio interview, Puno said the impeachment case had already gained substantial backing when the committee initially voted on the sufficiency in form and substance of the complaints.
According to him, support has only strengthened as more information and evidence became available to lawmakers and the public.
Puno, who also heads the National Unity Party (NUP), revealed that a recent internal straw vote conducted within the party showed that 34 of its 55 members currently support impeachment.
He said the party used a secret-ballot process to gauge the position of its members, although he noted that the numbers remain fluid as some lawmakers were absent while others have yet to finalize their positions.
The lawmaker estimated that at least 36 NUP members may eventually support the impeachment.
Puno also outlined projections involving other major political parties, including Lakas-CMD, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, saying the combined numbers could comfortably surpass the minimum threshold required under the Constitution.
Based on his estimates, the total number of votes in favor of impeachment could potentially exceed 180 once party-list lawmakers and undecided members are factored in.
Despite the growing support, Puno said consultations among lawmakers are still ongoing, especially as many members return to their districts to assess public sentiment ahead of the plenary vote.
He also observed that tensions surrounding the impeachment issue have gradually eased, with more lawmakers now focusing on the evidence presented during committee hearings rather than political considerations.
He added that attendance during House committee hearings has increased in recent weeks as more lawmakers take a closer look at the details of the case.
The House is expected to deliberate on the Articles of Impeachment during plenary session on May 11.