House moves to impeach VP Sara, advances complaint to Senate

Double the required number. 

Vice President Sara Duterte could be the first second-highest official in the Philippines to be impeached after the House of Representatives secured 215 of 306 votes to advance the complaint to the Senate, Feb. 5.

Surpassing the needed at least one-third or 102 votes, the lower house transmitted the impeachment complaint against Duterte to the upper house, just in time, before the Congress suspends session on Feb. 7

The approved impeachment complaint cited "six major allegations against the VP Duterte: 

1. Conspiracy to Assassinate President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady, and Speaker Martin Romualdez

2. Malversation of P612.5 Million in Confidential Funds

3. Bribery and Corruption in DepEd

4. Unexplained Wealth and Failure to Disclose Assets

5. Involvement in Extrajudicial Killings (Davao Death Squad)

6. Destabilization, Insurrection, and Public Disorder

Since the Congress will go on break for the upcoming election campaign, Senate President Chiz Escudero clarified that there will be no impeachment trial until the Senate resumes session on June 2. 

The Senate will serve as the impeachment court, and they must secure a two-thirds vote or at least 16 of its 24 members to remove Duterte from office.

Some senators already expressed opposition to VP Sara's impeachment, particularly Duterte allies like Sen. Robin Padilla, re-electionists Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, Sen. Bong Go, and the president's sister Sen. Imee Marcos.

The last impeached high officials in the country were Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2011 and former president Joseph Estrada in 2000.