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February 22, 2026 | 1:29pm
MANILA, Philippines — A House lawmaker backing a fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte said he is confident the chamber has “more than enough” votes to transmit the case to the Senate, even as other majority members cast doubt on securing the one-third threshold needed for a fast-track process.
Rep. Benny Abante Jr. (Manila 6th District), chair of the House Committee on Human Rights and an endorser of the latest complaint, said the numbers are there.
“More than enough, yes,” Abante said at the forum Saturday, February 21 in Quezon City, as state media reported. The lawmaker was asked if the House could muster one-third of its 318 members to send the articles of impeachment directly to the Senate.
He outlined the expected route: “The Committee on Rules will give it to the Committee on Justice. The Committee on Justice would deliberate on that, maybe for two or three days. And after that, it will be put into vote in the plenary.”
“It will be transmitted directly to the Senate after the vote in the plenary. That is what could really happen,” he added.
The fourth complaint was filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and endorsed by Abante and Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V.
Divided
Abante’s optimism contrasts with the assessment of House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor, who earlier said securing the express one-third endorsement now appears unlikely, particularly after Duterte publicly confirmed her 2028 presidential bid.
“As of right now, as of today, I cannot see getting one-third of endorsement from the members of the House of Representatives,” Defensor said on February 18. “But I can tell you right now na aabot ito sa Committee on Justice.”
The “express” mode requires at least one-third of all House members to endorse a single complaint, allowing immediate transmittal to the Senate for trial. This was the approach attempted last year, but the Supreme Court later ruled that Congress failed to refer earlier complaints within the required 10-session-day period, clarifying that the period should be counted as calendar days during session.
Even without one-third endorsement, Defensor said the more likely path is referral to the House justice committee, which will determine sufficiency in form and substance. Even so, a one-third vote of all members is still required to approve the articles and authorize transmittal to the Senate.
He added that Duterte’s early 2028 announcement may affect how lawmakers position themselves. “It is a strategic decision to announce it today,” Defensor said, noting that the weight of evidence could sway votes either way.
Allegations and timing
The freshly filed impeachment complaints repeat earlier allegations against Duterte, including the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, the use of “fictitious” fund recipients, bribery issues at the Department of Education, conspiracy to commit murder over alleged threats against the president, and abuse of power.
Abante said his endorsement was based on his role in past inquiries.
“And not only that, but when it comes to the appreciation of the complaint, I saw it. That’s why I endorsed it because I believed in the complaint itself,” he said. “Our vice president, she did not take an oath. She did not answer the allegations. Maybe if she answered, it would be okay.”
“But now is the time for the vice president to answer all the allegations. She has the opportunity now,” he added.
Makabayan bloc lawmakers have argued that Duterte’s presidential bid announcement is a “distraction” from the corruption allegations and urged Congress to pursue accountability.
Under the Supreme Court’s clarified timeline, the House must include the complaints in the Order of Business by February 24 to avoid them being barred by the constitutional one-year rule.
Should the House approve articles of impeachment and transmit them, a two-thirds vote in the Senate would be required for conviction, which would remove the vice president from office and bar her from holding public office in the future. — with reports from Dominique Flores
