BUTUAN CITY – Impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte are unlikely to succeed in the 19th Congress due to insufficient support from lawmakers.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco revealed that only six members of the House have shown backing for the three complaints filed by Akbayan, Makabayan, and a group of legal professionals and religious figures.
He pointed out that to move forward, the complaints would need to gain approval from a majority in the House Committee on Justice, but with minimal support at present, the chances of advancement seem low.
Add to this is the upcoming election season, which will shift lawmakers’ focus. Velasco explained that impeachment procedures demand substantial backing and time, both of which are lacking at this stage.
In spite of these difficulties, some lawmakers, especially from progressive factions, are determined to pursue Duterte’s impeachment. ACT Party-list Rep. France Castro, speaking at a rally in Quezon City, called on the public to support the complaints and pressure their representatives to take action.
Castro, who is running for a Senate seat in the upcoming elections, emphasized that impeaching Duterte could help hold other corrupt officials accountable.
She urged the public to actively engage with their lawmakers, underlining the importance of popular support in pushing the impeachment process forward.