Philippine House panel to send VP Sara Duterte impeachment case to plenary vote

A House of Representatives committee convened on Monday to decide whether to advance impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, who is accused of graft, constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.



The House committee on justice is expected to vote on its report and the accompanying articles of impeachment against Duterte, determining whether to send them to the plenary for debate by the 318-member chamber and move the charges one step closer to a Senate trial.



Only a majority vote by the House committee is needed to approve the resolution setting out the impeachment articles. Last week, 53 lawmakers unanimously found probable cause in the complaints against Duterte.



About 80 congressmen were named as co-authors of the draft impeachment resolution seen by the Inquirer. With 88 signatories in total, the House might only need 18 more votes in the floor to reach the threshold to send the charges to the Senate, provided all listed members maintain their support.



At least 106 lawmakers must vote in favor of the complaints before they can be transmitted to the Senate, which will sit as an impeachment court. A conviction there could remove Duterte from office and bar her from holding elected posts again.