There is a narrow window for the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to pull through with the number of session days in the current Congress dwindling, a busy holiday schedule ahead for lawmakers, and the looming 2025 election campaigns.

Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, vice chair of the House Committee on Justice, acknowledged on Saturday that the tight timeline could hinder the processing of the complaints, with the Christmas break fast approaching and many lawmakers heading back to their districts.

Flores stated in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo that one of the significant challenges for the committee is the limited number of session days left in the current legislative calendar.

"I’m sorry to admit that, but it is tight,” Flores said.

According to Flores, the committee is tasked with evaluating the impeachment complaints filed against Duterte for alleged "betrayal of public trust" and other charges. However, Flores pointed out that the process could be delayed as the complaints have not yet been officially referred to the committee.

The Office of the Speaker needs to act quickly, as the panel is required to refer the complaints to the Committee on Justice within three session days. After the referral, the committee must evaluate both the form and the substance of the complaints, said Flores.

According to Flores, in this process, the "form" refers to whether the complaint adheres to the procedural requirements, while "substance" refers to whether the complaints contain enough factual evidence to establish the alleged offense.

If the complaints pass these preliminary evaluations, the committee will give Duterte 10 days to respond to the charges.

After that, the process will involve more deliberations, including hearings and the possibility of summoning resource persons, Flores said.

He said the committee could take up to 60 days to submit a report to the House plenary with its recommendations on whether to dismiss the complaint or send it to the Senate for trial. However, given the time constraints, Flores admitted that the window to finish all procedures by the end of the year is "really tight."

Despite the obstacles, the Makabayan bloc, which includes former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, is intensifying its efforts in gathering the necessary 106 signatures.

“The gathering of signatures does not have a deadline,” he said. “We are hoping to get enough signatures,” he added.

Aiming for impeach express

The Makabayan coalition filed the impeachment complaint against Duterte, accusing her of "betrayal of public trust," which was supported by over 70 complainants.

Colmenares, now chairperson of Bayan Muna, emphasized that they are aiming for the fastest possible path to the Senate by securing the 106 signatures required to endorse the complaint.

Under the rules, an impeachment complaint can be filed by a House member or by a citizen, but it must be endorsed by a House member for it to proceed. If the complaint garners the necessary 106 signatures from members of the House, it can be elevated directly to the Senate for trial.

However, meeting that signature threshold remains uncertain, as lawmakers must review and approve the complaint before it can be referred to the Speaker’s office.

The impeachment complaint against Duterte has yet to be formally referred to the House Committee on Justice. According to the Office of the House Secretary General, the referral could happen as early as next week, but this depends on whether the required signatures are secured.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco has indicated that if the signatures are obtained, the complaint could be referred to the Speaker's office and then moved to the committee in the coming days.

Once referred to the Committee on Justice, the complaint would undergo a thorough evaluation, and the committee would have 60 days to report to the full House on whether to dismiss the case or send it to the Senate for trial.