Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

House of Representatives

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — “More than half” of House members might vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, according to House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo.</p><p>That will be more than the third — 106 members — of the House needed to bring the impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial.</p><p>Garin said in Lakas-CMD alone, which has more than 80 members at the lower chamber, two-thirds might vote in favor of Duterte’s impeachment.</p><p>She explained that while the evidence presented in the House panel impeachment hearings are sufficient to establish probable cause and remain unrebutted by the vice president, some Lakas-CMD members might have other considerations in voting.</p><p>“Ayaw nila na magkaroon ng political enemies… Lalu na kapag sabihin na natin ‘yung geographical location… kapag ang distrito mo ay nasa Mindanao, minsan kailangan mong balansehin,” Garin said.</p><p>She said other members may have already been approached and asked to protect Duterte.</p><p>Garin said Lakas-CMD will not have a party stand on impeachment, but will instead allow members to vote based on their conscience.</p><p>“In the case of the impeachment of the Vice President, nagkakaroon ng mga small meetings. Kanya-kanyang meeting, kanya-kanyang partido. Kami naman sa partido Lakas ay nagkaroon ng I think two or three meetings. ‘Yung iba nga Zoom. Ang pinag-uusapan naman siyempre doon sa meeting is sino ‘yung sang-ayon, sino ‘yung hindi. Para naiintindihan ng partido ‘yung stand,” Garin said.</p><p>Bicol Saro Party-List Rep. Terry Ridon also sees “more than half” of party-list representatives supporting the impeachment complaint against Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/1/nup-to-meet-on-potential-party-stand-on-duterte-impeachment-valeriano-1959">NUP to meet on potential party stand on Duterte impeachment – Valeriano</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PRESSURE?</strong></div><p>Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, the vice president&#x27;s brother, has reminded colleagues that their vote on impeachment should not be a result of pressure.</p><p>He issued the reminder after claiming that the budget and the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), are being used to coerce lawmakers into supporting his sister’s impeachment.</p><p>“Ayos ‘yan ah—accountability na may kasamang kondisyon,” Duterte said in a social media post of the supposed threat.</p><p>“Pati raw sa Senado, may mga kumakausap na. Busy ang iba—hindi sa pag-aayos ng problema ng bayan—kundi sa pag-aayos ng boto,” he added.</p><p>Several House members have denied this, with some challenging the Davao City solon to defend his sister before the House plenary.</p><p>“Wala namang ganoon,” Ridon said.</p><p>“Bakit hindi po sila nagpakita noong kasagsagan ng committee hearing?…Tatlo po ang Duterte na nakaupo bilang myembro ng Kamara. Bakit ni anino po ng bawat isa po sa kanila ay hindi nakita?” Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua added.</p><p>“I believe the best way forward is to put faces on those accusations. Mahirap kasi ‘yung sabi-sabi… Kasi sa panahong ito, ang daming fake news,” Garin noted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/30/for-sotto-forthwith-means-the-day-after-receiving-impeachment-articles-2008">For Sotto, &#x27;forthwith&#x27; means the day after receiving impeachment articles<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WITHDRAW PETITION</strong></div><p>If the vice president’s camp participates in the Senate trial, Ridon said, her lawyers should withdraw their petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the proceedings.</p><p>“I think it would have the effect of essentially waiving their reliefs at the level of the Supreme Court… in the event that they actually participate in the impeachment proceedings,” he explained.</p><p>“This is bad faith legal strategy on the part of the vice president. Kumbaga, sa isang bahagi, china-challenge mo ‘yung entirety of the proceedings, pero sa pangalawang bahagi… magpa-participate kami dyan,” Ridon, a lawyer, added.</p><p>After finding probable cause in the two impeachment complaints against Duterte last April 29, the House Committee on Justice is drafting its committee report and the articles of impeachment, which will be tackled by the panel on Monday, before submission to the House plenary.</p><p>The lower chamber is expected to vote on the committee report on May 11th.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wcNkujJIcYw?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>There is a possibility that “more than half” of House members will vote in favor of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment, according to House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin.</p>

There is a possibility that “more than half” of House members will vote in favor of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment, according to House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin.

‘More than half’ of House might support VP Duterte’s impeachment: Garin

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‘More than half’ of House might support VP Duterte’s impeachment: Garin

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 01, 2026 08:34 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

impeachment

Sara Duterte

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