An impeachment bid against Sara Duterte has formally moved forward after the House of Representatives referred the complaints to its Committee on Justice during a plenary session on Monday, February 23.
The referral marks a significant procedural step in the impeachment process, signaling that the complaints have cleared the initial stage required under the Constitution. With the case now in the hands of the committee, lawmakers are tasked with examining the allegations both in form and substance before any further action can be taken.
The development also activates the one-year bar rule, which prevents the filing of additional impeachment complaints against the same official within one year once a complaint has been referred to the appropriate committee. This constitutional safeguard is designed to avoid repeated or politically motivated filings that could hamper governance and legislative stability.
Under the rules, the Committee on Justice will first determine whether the complaints are sufficient in form, meaning they meet the technical and legal requirements for consideration. This includes verifying whether the complaints are properly endorsed and whether they clearly outline the alleged impeachable offenses.
If the complaints pass this stage, the panel will then deliberate on their sufficiency in substance. Lawmakers will evaluate whether the accusations, if proven, would constitute grounds for impeachment under the Constitution. The process may involve hearings, submission of evidence, and legal arguments from both complainants and representatives of the Vice President.
Once the committee completes its review, it will submit a report back to the plenary. Members of the House will then vote on whether the impeachment articles should be transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines for trial. A favorable vote would elevate the matter to the Senate, which sits as an impeachment court tasked with determining whether the Vice President should be convicted or acquitted.
As of now, no timetable has been publicly announced for the committee’s proceedings. However, the referral alone underscores the seriousness of the complaints and places the political spotlight squarely on the Vice President and her allies in Congress.
Political observers note that impeachment cases are inherently complex and often influenced by shifting alliances within the House. The coming weeks are expected to be critical as lawmakers weigh the legal merits of the complaints against the broader political implications for the administration and the country’s leadership landscape.