Required number of signatures to impeach VP Sara in the House met

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As of early afternoon on Wednesday, the effort to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte in the House has secured the backing of more or less 200 lawmakers

Enough signatures have been gathered to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, a House source familiar with the matter told Rappler on Wednesday, February 5.

The congressional source, speaking on condition of anonymity said “around 200 lawmakers” as of 1 pm have supported the impeachment complaint, which is expected to be read in the plenary before the House adjourns session on Wednesday night, in time for the three-month-long campaign period.

Rumors started swirling on Tuesday, February 4, that an effort to gather 102 signatures — equivalent to one-third of the House — was ongoing. This development was confirmed to Rappler by another congressional source speaking on condition of anonymity.

By Wednesday morning, security cordoned off the hallway leading to Romualdez Hall, the venue of an impromptu meeting among lawmakers in the majority.

OFW Representative Marissa Magsino said there was a caucus, while Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin called it a party consultation.

Assistant Majority Leader Pammy Zamora said she received a vague invitation that said, “See you at Romualdez Hall,” while Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy confirmed the notice came from Speaker Martin Romualdez’s office.

This development still has to be finalized in the plenary. As of posting time, Duterte has not been indicted by the House, and the number of signatures may still increase or decrease.

If the impeachment pushes through, the articles of impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate, which will have to put Duterte on trial.

Duterte has been under intense scrutiny after a months-long congressional probe uncovered anomalies in her public expenditures as vice president and when she was education secretary, a position she held until she resigned in June 2024.

In December, three separate impeachment complaints were filed against her, accusing Duterte of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

However, the non-referral of the petitions by the House secretary general to Romualdez, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncements that he was against Duterte’s impeachment, cast doubts on the strength of the impeachment effort. – Rappler.com