Support continues to build in the House of Representatives for the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, with more lawmakers expressing confidence that the votes needed to elevate the case to the Senate will be secured.
House leaders said backing for the impeachment complaint has expanded across multiple political parties following weeks of hearings and the presentation of evidence before the House Committee on Justice.
Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez said more lawmakers have become convinced that the allegations against the Vice President warrant a Senate trial, particularly after what he described as a more comprehensive review of the complaints and supporting documents.
The House Committee on Justice earlier found probable cause to impeach Duterte and approved the committee report for plenary consideration. Lawmakers stressed that the proceedings at this stage are meant to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for a trial, not to decide guilt or innocence.
Among the issues raised during the hearings were alleged discrepancies in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), questions surrounding the source and movement of funds, and billions of pesos in covered and suspicious transactions flagged in Anti-Money Laundering Council records.
Records discussed during the hearings allegedly showed that Duterte and her husband failed to clearly declare cash on hand and bank deposits in their SALNs for several consecutive years beginning in 2019. Lawmakers also pointed to the reported P6.77 billion in transactions linked to their bank accounts since 2006.
Benitez said the SALN system should be strengthened to improve transparency and accountability among public officials, adding that he plans to file a measure aimed at tightening disclosure requirements.
Despite claims from some sectors that lawmakers are being pressured to support the impeachment complaint, House leaders denied accusations of arm-twisting and maintained that members are free to vote according to their judgment.
The House plenary is expected to vote on the Articles of Impeachment on May 11 after members were given several days to review the committee report and supporting evidence.