The House of Representatives aims to hold a vote on impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte by May 11. Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, chair of the justice committee, stated that this date is designed to comply with a Supreme Court ruling.
Luistro highlighted that the Supreme Court had previously declared an earlier impeachment attempt unconstitutional due to insufficient time for lawmakers to review the allegations before voting.
In an online interview, Luistro explained, "The Supreme Court ruling indicated that House members must receive the articles of impeachment along with supporting evidence before the plenary vote."
The proposed timeline allows House members to study the documents over a five-day period. Luistro believes this is adequate for lawmakers to grasp the issues at hand.
She stated that if the committee report is distributed to members soon, they will have ample time to prepare for the vote.
Plenary Vote Preparation
Luistro plans to present the committee report during the plenary session, which will include a sponsorship speech and opportunities for interpellation.
Following the discussions, a motion will be made to vote on the committee report and the impeachment articles.
The justice committee found probable cause for impeachment after several hearings, which examined allegations of misuse of confidential funds and unexplained wealth linked to Duterte.
Allegations Against Duterte
Recent hearings revealed accusations regarding the misappropriation of funds within the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
Alleged misuse of around P125 million in confidential funds was highlighted by former aide Ramil Madriaga, who testified about cash deliveries for political favors.
Additionally, the Anti-Money Laundering Council confirmed suspicious transactions associated with Duterte and her family, totaling approximately P6.77 billion.
The purpose is to give them an opportunity to read and study the articles of impeachment including the evidence which will guide them in the plenary vote.
Gerville Luistro
As the impeachment process unfolds, the political landscape in the Philippines continues to be closely monitored by both supporters and critics of the Vice President.