At least 25 additional lawmakers have submitted verification forms as complainants in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, potentially bringing the total number of petitioners to 240, or more than 80 percent of the 306-member House of Representatives.

In a phone interview on Friday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco told DAILY TRIBUNE that these late signatories intend to take their oath before him on Monday to officially list themselves as complainants to the Articles of Impeachment.

He said these 25 lawmakers were unable to sign the petition on Wednesday as they were not physically present during the oath-taking and verification due to commitments abroad or in their respective districts.

“The legal department of the House will study if they could take their oath via Zoom or virtually, which we allowed during the pandemic,” Velasco stated. “They still have until Monday to take their oath. Nonetheless, they have sent me their verification forms to be part of complainants.”

The increase in the number of petitioners, however, would only be formalized if the Senate, which will sit as the trial court, acknowledges the late signatories, taking into account that the Articles of Impeachment were already transmitted to the chamber.

“It’s up to the Senate if they would allow, acknowledge these 25 even after 5 February. We will coordinate with them, so we’ll see,” he added.

Duterte is the first sitting vice president to be impeached by Congress, with 215 lawmakers — more than double the required one-third vote — backing her ouster.

The 25 additional petitioners include Deputy Speaker Antonio “Tonypet” Albano (Isabela), resigned House appropriations panel chair Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol Party-list), ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, Ako Ilocano Ako Rep. Richelle Singson, Pangasinan Rep. Arthur Celeste, Cavite Rep. Adrian Jay Advincula, Tarlac Reps. Noel Rivera and Christian Tell Yap, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr., Ako Bisaya Rep. Sonny Lagon, GP Rep. Jose Gay Padiernos, Sagip Rep. Caroline Tanchay, and Abono Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella.

Other signatories are Lakas-CMD members, including Biñan Rep. Marlyn Alonte, Cagayan Rep. Ramon Nolasco Jr., Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Leyte Rep. Carl Nicolas Cari, Masbate Reps. Richard Kho, Olga Kho, and Wilton Kho, Negros Occidental Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, Quirino Rep. Midy Cua, Sultan Kudarat Rep. Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran, and Pangasinan Rep. Ramon Guico Jr.

The Articles of Impeachment submitted to the Senate was the fourth complaint lodged against Duterte in the span of two months, accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Assassination plot as grounds

The petitioners cited as grounds Duterte’s alleged kill plot against President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as the alleged misappropriation of her multi-million peso confidential funds and purported bribery of subordinates in the Department of Education during her tenure as its secretary.

Duterte, however, denied the allegations, calling the House probe into her confidential funds a “well-funded” and “coordinated political attack” aimed at tarnishing her reputation ahead of the election.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose 'Mannix' Dalipe emphasized that the chamber “[did] not take orders from Malacañan” regarding the impeachment.

“The notion that nothing moves in Congress without the President’s approval is pure fiction…The House is an independent branch of government,” Dalipe asserted.

Marcos himself has denied any involvement in the impeachment, a move he has vehemently opposed in recent months.

The Senate is expected to try Duterte when Congress reconvenes after the 12 May elections.

The chamber will need a two-thirds vote, or at least 16 of the 24 senators, to convict and remove Duterte from office. If convicted, she will be permanently disqualified from holding any public office in the future.

However, a conviction would not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification. Any subsequent prosecution or punishment, including imprisonment, would be determined by the judicial courts.

If Duterte survives impeachment, the House, which has the sole power to initiate the process, would have to wait at least one year to file another petition, as mandated by the Constitution.