House leader: Any move to file 'baseless' impeachment complaint vs. VP Duterte futile

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) — House Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe on Friday said it would be difficult to gain support for an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte without substantial evidence.

"It's not easy to convince one-third when you don't have any basis. So, if there is nothing there to merit an impeachment complaint, I'm sure you cannot even get five or 10 congressmen supporting it. What more for a hundred plus congressmen supporting an impeachment complaint which is baseless," Dalipe told CNN Philippines' The Source.

Dalipe denied that there are discussions in the lower chamber to impeach Duterte. He said he was even surprised when he heard the "rumor" because he does not see any reason to do so.

"I was surprised, why are there rumors about an impeachment complaint when me, as a majority leader, I don't see anything substantial that would entail such impeachment of the vice president… wala namang (there is no) justifiable reason," he said.

The lawmaker said the issue only intends to cause a rift between the vice president and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

If an impeachment complaint will be filed in the future, Dalipe said the House will carefully look into it, noting that it will have to go through a rigorous process.

He said the person who will file this will have to do a lot of convincing because getting the one-third vote will involve not just one but two to three political parties agreeing to it.

For now, Dalipe said the House is focused on passing all 17 priority measures of the Marcos administration. Only seven are left to be discussed and approved before the year ends, he added.