House has enough signatures to impeach VP Sara, says official
At A Glance
- There are enough signatures among House of Representatives members to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, says House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.
Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
There are enough signatures among House of Representatives members to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.
This was bared by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5, roughly an hour ahead of the day's plenary session.
"Yes we have enough...102 po ang requirement eh (the requirement is 102)," Velasco said.
"It was last reported 153 [signatures] na eh. Pero wala pa kaming exact number until we report it to the plenary," he said.
(It was last reported at 153 signatures. But we still don't have an exact number until we report it to the plenary.)
Meanwhile, a separate source said that over 200 out of the 306-strong House of Representatives had already affixed their signatures to the complaint.
Velasco further said that the impeachment rap in question was the fourth complaint against Vice President Duterte.
"Fourth complaint bale ito (So far this is the fourth complaint)...I think [there's] seven articles [of impeachment].
"It will be presented to the plenary and once it's approved, transmitted na agad sa Senate (it will be transmitted immediately to the Senate)," Velasco explained. He says the fourth complaint is yet to reach his office.
Referring to the lady official, the secretary general said: "Of course she has to be tried by the Senate."
The interview with Velasco was conducted after a caucus among majoirty members of the House.
Three impeachment complaints were filed against the Vice President last December. All three were endorsed by minority solons.
Wednesday's plenary session is the last before the May 12 mid-term elections.
Last year, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability spent months discussing the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds under offices controlled by Vice President Duterte.