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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Panalo na ang kabayo': Puno says reaching 106-vote impeachment threshold is easy

'Panalo na ang kabayo': Puno says reaching 106-vote impeachment threshold is easy

Published May 6, 2026 03:30 pm

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Speaker Ronnie Puno says Vice President Sara Duterte's potential impeachment is a "winning bet," noting that only 106 votes are needed and that Lakas-CMD, the largest party, is leading the push.
  • Puno estimates that between Lakas-CMD and NUP alone, close to 100 lawmakers could support the adoption of the articles of impeachment, with additional backing expected from Makabayan, Akbayan, Liberal Party allies, and other major parties.
  • He stresses that the question is not whether the House can reach the threshold but how large the margin will be.
Antipolo City 1st district Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Antipolo City 1st district Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


House Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno believes that Vice President Sara Duterte’s potential impeachment in plenary next week is a "winning bet".
Speaking in a virtual interview, Puno--chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP)--said it's quite easy for House of Representatives members to achieve the one-third vote (106 out of 318 congressmen) that's needed to adopt the articles of impeachment against Duterte.
Puno pointed to the sheer strength of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), which he described as the prime mover of the impeachment proceedings against the lady official.
"Lakas remains the largest party [in the House]. I think they are close to 70. We (NUP) are probably the second, still the second and then the others are close behind," said the veteran lawmaker.
"Lakas is still the biggest party and Lakas is the father party of this impeachment complaint. So siguro halos lahat ang tingin ko sa Lakas (So I think almost everyone from Lakas) will vote for impeachment," Puno said.
He went on to quip: "So what are the odds? Kung pumupusta ka sa karera ng kabayo, panalo na siguro itong kabayo na ito kasi 106 lang ang kailangan (If you bet on horse races, then this horse is already looking like a winner because you only need 106)."
Earlier in the presser, Puno estimated that "60 percent" of NUP's 55 stalwarts was leaning toward supporting the adoption of the articles of impeachment.
When asked if 30 was an accurate number, Puno said, "Yeah, I think there's at least 30."
Based on Puno's own estimates, there could be close to 100 solon-backers of the articles of impeachment between Lakas-CMD and NUP alone.
Others that are shoo--ins to vote in favor of the Vice President's impeachment are the three-member Makabayan bloc, the three Akbayan Party-list nominees, and other Liberal Party (LP)-allied solons.
The other major political parties whose members are expected to contribute to the final count are the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), and the President Marcos-led Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Vice President Duterte is an ally-turned-critic of the Chief Executive's.
For Puno, the question is no longer if the House can clear the 106-vote threshold, but how much it can blow it out of the water.
"Even the most elementary of counting will bring you to that number very easily. Ang tanong is whether marami ba? (The question is, how many will vote?)"
"And I think that is what the leadership is trying to do now, they're trying to bring it to a number that shows that at least a majority of the House is in favor of this impeachment complaint being sent to the Senate," Puno said.
Vice President Duterte was impeached by the House last year via the constitutional "fast track" mode. On Feb. 5, 2025, 215 out of 313 congressmen signed an impeachment complaint that was then sent directly to the Senate.
The articles of impeachment prepared by the Committee on Justice in the 2026 impeachment process against the Vice President was read in House plenary on Tuesday night, May 5.
The plenary adoption of the articles--which would trigger impeachment--is expected to be put to a vote on Monday, May 11.

Related Tags

Impeachment Sara Duterte RONNIE PUNO Articles of Impeachment
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