Manila: Twenty-five additional lawmakers have expressed their intent to join the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to leaders of the House of Representatives. In a press conference on Thursday, Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong confirmed that the additional 25 lawmakers, previously abroad or in their districts, had submitted verification to sign the complaint.
According to Philippines News Agency, if the process permits the acceptance of additional complainants, the total number of endorsers will rise from 215 to 240, representing more than 75 percent of the House’s 306 members. Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor credited party consultations across major political groups, including Lakas-CMD, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), National Unity Party (NUP), and Nacionalista Party (NP), for unifying support for the fourth impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
“There were party consultations and considering that there were three previous impeachment complaints filed, we were able to come up with a stronger and clearer impeachment complaint that gained the support and confidence of lawmakers,” Defensor said. He noted that the strength of the case itself gained the supermajority’s support.
“That is why with this fourth impeachment complaint, where the evidence is presented in a stronger manner, it gave confidence to more than 200 or 215 congressmen to act as complainants,” Defensor added.
1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodrigo Gutierrez stated that earlier impeachment complaints lacked momentum, but the fourth filing garnered consensus. “Admittedly, it’s a long time coming. We each congressman, although we’ve talked about impeachment, we’ve already formed opinions from the hearings of the Quad Comm and the Good Government committees,” Gutierrez said. “But the first three impeachment complaints did not gather consensus; they did not gather the momentum needed.”
Gutierrez also denied allegations that lawmakers were given financial incentives or “ayuda” in exchange for their signatures. He emphasized that overwhelming support for the complaint was based on the merits of the case. “We categorically deny such allegations,” Gutierrez stated. “This was an independent action. We believe it was done faithfully and truthfully by each member.”
Adiong described the claims as a “smear campaign” designed to discredit the impeachment process, urging the public to focus on the legal merits of the case. “The smear campaign against this process has begun,” he said. “Let us not be swayed by such fake news because this is just a way to divert attention from the true merits of this process.”
The House is also preparing for an information campaign to educate the public on the impeachment process, according to Defensor, adding that preparations for an impeachment trial were also underway. Rodriguez mentioned that they are ready for whatever decision the Senate would make regarding the impeachment trial. “If ever the Senate does indeed interpret that they could proceed with trial as early as March, we will be ready. If they decide that it will continue after June 2, we will be even more ready,” he said.
