A HOUSE leader on Thursday denied any lobbying efforts within the majority bloc to either support or oppose the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying that lawmakers are focused on legislative work and ongoing hearings.
In a press conference, Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V clarified that the complaints have not been formally discussed within the House majority.
“Wala pa po. Wala pa pong kahit ano,” Ortega said, addressing speculations about lobbying within the bloc. “Talagang sabi ko nga po, we’ve been very focused on the hearings. ‘Yun pa rin po ang goal, ‘yun pa rin po ang thread ng focus namin sa majority.”
Ortega revealed that while potentially “impeachable” matters have surfaced during hearings of the House Blue Ribbon Committee and the Quad Comm, the majority bloc has yet to deliberate on the complaints.
“Hindi pa po namin napag-uusapan as a group and as the majority hanggang ngayon. So never pa namin napag-usapan,” he said, reiterating that the group remains concentrated on legislative priorities.
The Blue Ribbon panel, officially known as the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, is investigating allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte misused ₱612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was still education secretary.
Meanwhile, the Quad Comm is probing various anomalies, including alleged extrajudicial killings tied to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.
Addressing questions about the handling of impeachment complaints, Ortega explained that the House is constitutionally mandated to act on any referrals.
“Ang trabaho po namin, we’re constitutionally mandated na aktuhan po ‘yan lalo ’pag na-refer na ‘yan,” Ortega said.
He continued: “Pero ‘yun nga po may proseso pong pagdadaanan ‘yan. Hindi naman po iisang boto lang ‘yan. Boto po ng buong House at ibabato po natin sa Senate, then depende po sa progress ng mga na-file na impeachment complaints.”
Ortega also dismissed speculation that external groups, such as religious organizations, have influenced House members on the matter.
He emphasized that the views of all sectors—including business groups, urban poor communities, and other stakeholders—are being considered as part of the legislative process.
“Lahat, lahat naman po ng sektor. Siyempre po pag policy-driven kayo, legislative ang trabaho niyo, you will consider po lahat ng boses ng lahat ng sektor,” Ortega said.
Ortega underscored that the House majority’s immediate goal is to remain focused on legislative work and consensus-building among its members.
“At the end of the day, kailangan may consensus kasi nga po iisa po ang goal naman natin dito sa House of Representatives—ituloy ‘yung ating mga ginagawang trabaho,” he said.
Vice President Duterte faces two impeachment complaints, accusing her, among others, of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds and of threatening President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
