Cracks are showing in the oust-Sara movement as the disparate groups in it are arguing over the timing of the impeachment, accusing their allies in Congress of jumping the gun.

Groups seeking to remove Vice President Sara Duterte are expressing frustration over the impatience of members of the House of Representatives, who are eager to impeach her despite knowing that the election season is likely to overshadow the proceedings.

With a new set of Congress and the trial delayed by at least five months, the equation and the mood will likely change after the polls.

The House of Representatives, on 5 February, impeached Vice President Sara Duterte with 215 votes and immediately transmitted the complaint to the Senate.

The number of endorsers exceeded the one-third threshold required under the Constitution and House rules to impeach an official.

Retired Associate Justice Antonio Carpio filed a petition with the Supreme Court questioning the confidential funds of VP Duterte.

Carpio said his group, 1Sambayan, asked VP Duterte to reveal her P125 billion confidential fund’s use, and she replied that it cannot be disclosed because an Executive Order signed during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte grants a right to information on all matters of public concern except confidential funds.

1Sambayan challenged the assertion of the Vice President regarding the EO’s effect on the need to disclose the use of the controversial funds.

Carpio, nonetheless, said VP Duterte’s impeachment, backed by two-thirds of the House, ensures that the complaint is now with the Senate.

The move against VP Duterte transpired the day Congress went on a recess until June 2 to make way for the national elections.

The Senate met before it adjourned, but it did not take up the impeachment. Carpio said that what the Senate could have done was set the trial dates during the campaign period, but they did not do that.

“The Senate could have also required VP Sara to answer within 10 calendar days under the impeachment rules, but the chamber did nothing,” he explained.

The effect is that nothing will happen until 2 June, when the session resumes, and they really don’t have time because, counting the 10 days given to VP Sara to reply, the game is over (as far as the 19th Congress is concerned).

A new Congress takes over after 30 June, and the trial will happen with a different set of legislators.

Carpio said the move to put the process on hold until after the elections gives those seeking the vote an opportunity not to show their cards too early.

The Dutertes maintain strong support from Visayas and Mindanao, as well as the crucial backing of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

The Senate just cannot terminate it because it says that the Senate shall conduct the trial unless VP Sara, sure of her numbers, decides to submit it for a resolution, Carpio indicated.

He, however, said that it would be difficult for VP Sara to skip a trial since she must be sure of a two-thirds vote to get an acquittal.

What is shaping up is that the impeachment will be an election issue as candidates take their positions.

This will make the campaigns the initial battleground for another episode of the divisive political effort, which has the potential of being exploited to make it a clash between Imperial Manila and the other regions supporting the Dutertes.

The flip side of impeachment being a key subject in the elections is that public interest issues will be brought out, mainly transparency in government, instead of personality and other recall factors dominating the campaigns.

In the end, it may result in voters’ awareness regarding the real issues to size up candidates who deserve their support. In a way, the elections will allow Filipinos to indirectly decide Vice President Sara Duterte’s political fate by influencing the candidates they vote for in Congress.