House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed that lawmakers will likely file a fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte next week, possibly on Monday. Some House majority members are considering supporting the complaint, but they are still finalizing the details.
The Ongoing Impeachment Efforts
With Duterte facing growing legal and public scrutiny, the ongoing impeachment efforts show no sign of fading. If the fourth impeachment complaint proceeds as expected, it will further complicate her position and could bring additional challenges for the Marcos administration.
The fourth complaint follows the three previous impeachment cases filed against Duterte, all of which accuse her of various offenses, including culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust. These complaints have centered around allegations regarding her office’s handling of confidential funds, which Duterte has repeatedly denied mismanaging.
Lawmakers Push for Action
Despite the legal processes being slow, some lawmakers are looking to rally support for these complaints. Around a dozen congressmen, both from the majority and the minority, are planning to endorse one of the existing complaints. They have yet to decide which complaint to support, but they aim to strengthen their push for impeachment.
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro is leading efforts to unify those backing the impeachment complaints. She has called for a meeting in January to coordinate the endorsement process and push for a public mobilization to demand action from the House leadership. According to Castro, over half of the public supports the impeachment, making it crucial for Congress to address the issue without further delay.
The third complaint, filed by lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, is still under verification by the House Secretary General’s office. Once reviewed, it will be referred to Speaker Martin Romualdez for further action. Velasco emphasized that these complaints need careful consideration, but the growing momentum for impeachment may soon force a decision. Castro and other advocates have been vocal in urging the House to move forward without being swayed by external pressure, including that from religious groups or political factions seeking to block the proceedings.
