Congress is not ready to tackle the three impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr.
Abante, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, told reporters on Thursday, January 16, that members of the House of Representatives have expressed their reservations about the impeachment, citing limited time and lack of preparation.
He explained that the House only has 10 session days left before the session is adjourned for the election period. The complaints are still with the Office of the Secretary General and have yet to be transmitted to the Office of the House Speaker for review, as well as the House Committee on Rules for debate.
“In reality, wala na eh. 10 session days is actually too short for that,” he said. “And then, ita-transmit sa Senado ‘yan, no. Actually, we are not sure about the Senate, kung ‘yan ay talagang papatulan pa nila.”
Congress adjourns on February 8 to make way for the election period. It will resume on June 2 before adjourning again on June 14 as the legislature transitions into the 20th Congress, the members of which will depend on the results of the election in May.
Abante said he would back the impeachment in the 20th Congress.
‘Now’s the time’ for Impeachment Proceedings
ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro, who endorsed the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte on December 4, 2024, said that now is the time to process the complaints. “Ngayon na ‘yong time at hindi rin tayo nakaka-siguro kasi sa 20th Congress, kung ang magiging decision pa rin ay for impeachment,” Castro said. “Baka magbago na rin. Dahil alam naman natin after the midterm election na pinaghahandaan na rin ‘yan ay presidential election.”
Akbayan Party List Rep. Percival Cendaña, endorser of the first impeachment complaint filed on December 2, said, “Sa bawat araw na nakaupo si VP Sara sa pwesto, we are enabling her to undermine our laws.”
Duterte recently expressed interest in running in the 2028 national elections, saying that she is “seriously considering” a presidential bid.
On Thursday, activists and Catholic priests held a mass called “Misa ng Sambayanan” and press conference at the EDSA Shrine, launching the “Peach Coalition” in support of impeachment proceedings.
“Hayaan nating ipaliwanag ng mga taong dapat managot kung saan nila dinala ang pera ng taumbayan dahil ito ay ating obligasyong moral,” said Father Angel Cortez. “Ang impeachment ay obligasyong moral kaya marami sa hanay ng simbahan ang kasama niyo ngayong hapon, dahil naninindigan kami.”
Mamamayang Liberal party-list first nominee Leila de Lima was also present at the coalition’s launch. During the press conference, she said that while the Iglesio Ni Cristo’s peace rally against Duterte’s impeachment saw a crowd estimate of over 1.5 million, it did not reflect the majority opinion of Filipinos on the impeachment.
“Ang malinaw ay minority ang numero nila compared a rest of the Filipinos, and then minority rin ‘yong posisyon na dinadala nila kasi hindi ‘yon ‘yong lumalabas sa recent survey,” she said, referring to the recent Social Weather Stations report stating that 41 percent of Filipino were in favor of the impeachment.
The report, released on January 8, also said that 35 percent of Filipinos were not in favor of the impeachment, 19 percent were undecided, and the remaining five percent “did not know enough” to make a decision.
