House panel to vote on report finalizing VP Sara Duterte impeachment case

MANILA, Philippines – The House justice committee reconvenes on Monday, May 4, to vote on a committee report that contains the consolidated impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The panel already voted last week in favor of motions finding probable cause in the two separate complaints against Duterte, so Monday’s proceedings are considered a matter of formality — a standard operating procedure before the committee’s findings are elevated to the plenary.

Fifty-three lawmakers voted in favor of the complaints last week. Things to watch on Monday include whether those numbers will hold, and which lawmakers will agree to be named as co-authors of the committee report.

Once the committee report is approved, it will be transmitted to the plenary, which will then hold deliberations on the matter.

House committee chairperson Jinky Luistro previously said a plenary vote may be held as early as May 11, giving lawmakers a week to study the draft impeachment articles.

Duterte is accused of misusing public funds, amassing ill-gotten wealth, and making death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She and her legal team snubbed all four committee hearings, issuing public statements and holding press conferences outside Congress, while offering general denials of the allegations raised in Congress.

Watch the livestream here on this page on Monday at 10 am. – Rappler.om