THE House of Representatives will devote Monday’s plenary session almost entirely to the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, with a floor vote expected after sponsorship and interpellation on the committee report and the Articles of Impeachment, Manila Rep. Joel Chua said over the weekend.
The House Committee on Justice earlier found probable cause in two impeachment complaints through a unanimous 53-0 vote. It later approved the committee report and the attached Articles of Impeachment through another unanimous 55-0 vote, clearing the way for plenary action. Lawmakers were then given time to review the articles and supporting evidence ahead of the expected May 11 vote.
For Chua, a member of the House Committee on Justice and chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Monday’s process is already set.
“Sa Lunes, isa lang ang magiging agenda ng House, ang impeachment. Pagbukas ng session, ito ang tatalakayin sa floor. Bibigyan ng pagkakataon na magtanong ang mga miyembro ng Kamara, at kapag natapos iyon, bubuksan na ang botohan,” Chua said in an interview on dzMM.
He said House Justice Committee chair Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas will sponsor and defend the committee report before the plenary. This will be followed by the period of interpellation and eventually the vote.
Under the 1987 Constitution, at least 106 votes, or one-third of the 318-member House, are required to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial. Chua said support has already gone well beyond that threshold.
“Kung conservative ang bilang, may 200 na mambabatas na nakakausap tayo na nag-signify ng kanilang support. Sa tingin ko mas marami pa riyan, pero doon muna tayo sa conservative number,” he said.
According to Chua, support among lawmakers increased after the latter hearings, particularly when discussions centered on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) issues and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records.
“Marami ang nagbago noong pangalawang hearing, lalo na nang nabuksan ang SALN at AMLC report at wala namang naging sagot o tugon ang panig ng respondent na Vice President. Nang nakita ang mga numero, marami ang nagbago ng pasya,” Chua said.
He added that lawmakers were also sensing a shift among their constituents.
“In fact, sila rin ang nagsasabi na maski sa ground, sa kanilang constituents, ang dating ihip ng hangin noong unang impeachment ay iba na ngayon,” he said.
The impeachment case now rests on four Articles of Impeachment. Article I deals with the alleged systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Article II centers on alleged unexplained wealth, SALN discrepancies, and P6.77 billion in covered and suspicious transactions reflected in AMLC records involving Duterte and her spouse. Article III concerns alleged bribery and cash payments to Department of Education officials. Article IV tackles the alleged assassination plot, grave threats, and inciting to sedition.
Chua said the House record already establishes more than enough basis for probable cause, adding that the respondent’s camp failed to place any counter-evidence on record before the committee.
“Ang walang ebidensiyang naipakita ay sila, dahil kahit minsan ay hindi sila um-attend. Pero insofar as the complainant is concerned, more than probable cause ang lumalabas sa mga ebidensiyang nailatag,” he said.
He stressed that the House bent over backward to observe fairness and due process.
“Binigyan natin siya ng notice. Ilang beses siyang binigyan ng pagkakataong dumalo sa ating pagdinig, pero ni minsan ay hindi siya dumating. Bagkus, limited lamang kami sa mga clarificatory questions. Kaya nakikita natin na ito ay very fair,” Chua said.
He underscored that the committee could act only on evidence formally submitted and placed on record.
“Hindi kami puwedeng gumamit ng ebidensiyang sinasabi lamang nila sa media at hindi nila isinasama sa committee, dahil hindi ito on record. So kung ano man ang kanilang sinasabing ebidensiya, baliwala iyon unless and until isumite nila ito sa committee,” he said.
If the House votes to impeach, Chua said the transmittal of the Articles to the Senate should follow quickly.
“Hindi ko man masabi na ura-urada, but anytime within that week, sigurado mata-transmit iyan,” he said.
He added that the House may vote on its prosecution panel by Tuesday or Wednesday. Among the names he said could emerge are Reps. Luistro, Chel Diokno, Leila de Lima, Rodge Gutierrez, Keith Flores, and Bel Zamora.
Chua also argued that even a resignation should not automatically terminate the Senate proceedings because the prayer in the Articles includes not only removal from office but also perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“Dalawa ang prayer sa Articles of Impeachment, removal at perpetual disqualification. Kung mag-resign siya habang dinidinig ito sa Senado, naniniwala ako na dapat ituloy pa rin, dahil iyong isang prayer ay kailangan pa ring masagot at mapagdesisyunan,” he said.
For Chua, the House has already done the difficult part by building the record and hearing the evidence. Monday, he said, is about completing the chamber’s constitutional duty and sending the case to the Senate.
“Once ito ay napagbotohan sa Kongreso at inakyat sa Senado, wala silang option kundi ituloy. Ang ginamit na salita sa Saligang Batas ay shall. Ibig sabihin, mandatory ito. Hindi ito optional para sa kanila,” Chua said.
