Lawmakers Trying to Fast-Track 3 Impeach Complaints vs Sara

With time running out, officials and members of the House of Representatives are trying to expedite the handling of three impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, an administrative official of the chamber said yesterday.

- DELON PORCALLA

"We are still looking for the fast-track process, which will override these requirements (for impeachment)," House secretary-general Reginald Velasco told reporters in a chance interview.

He pointed out that should at least 103 congressmen sign one of three impeachment complaints, then any more House deliberations would be dispensed with.

"Then it goes directly to the Senate. It doesn't have to go through the House committee on justice," Velasco explained.

He said there may no longer be a fourth impeachment complaint against the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, but this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s off the hook, especially if 103 legislators endorse the suit.

Upon receipt of an impeachment complaint, the Senate will constitute itself into an impeachment court.

Congress adjourns on Feb. 7 to give way to the campaign of congressmen running in their districts, as well as lawmakers representing party-list groups, along with 12 members of the Senate who will be elected on May 12 this year.

Velasco vowed to act on the three impeachment complaints in his office any time this week, which may finally be referred to the office of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“The complaints are still with me, but we have to act on it this week. We will act on it this week,” he said, but added that they are giving other potential complainants more time to file their impeachment suits and “transmit the impeachment complaints within this week.”

Velasco said the lack of endorsers ties the hands of lawmakers to make the impeachment complaints prosper.