Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)

The move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte is gaining traction in the House of Representatives, based on the latest remarks of Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

In a message to House reporters, Velasco said that a group of congressmen from the majority bloc intend to endorse at least one of the files impeachment complaints against the Vice President. 

"Some House members have told me in confidence that they are thinking of endorsing one of the three impeachment complaints filed earlier or another complaint," Velasco said.

When asked if these House members belonged to the majority or minority, the House official answered, "majority".

In a separate interview, Velasco bared that the number of these majority solons was around 10.

This can be interpreted as a sort of "progress" for the impeachment, since all of the solon-endorsers of the three complaints so far have been minority bloc members or independent. 

By their impending endorsement, the unnamed majority solons have also indicated that they will favor the impeachment complaint if and when it reaches the House plenary.

A 4th impeachment complaint?

Sessions at the House of Representatives have yet to resume due to the holiday break, but its offices have already reopened. 

With this, rumors are already swirling that a fourth impeachment complaint could be filed against Vice President Duterte as early as Monday, Jan. 6. Velasco did not directly respond to these rumors.

A group composed of civil society figureheads led by former senator Lima filed the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte on Dec. 2. It was endorsed by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña. 

Just two days later, on Dec. 4, a second impeachment complaint was filed agaisnt the lady official, this time by members of progressive groups. This was endorsed by Makabayan bloc members ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel. 

A group mostly composed of priests and lawyers then trooped to the House of Representatives to file third complaint on Dec. 19. Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Lex Anthony Cris Colada endorsed the latest impeachment rap.