House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos has reportedly initiated a series of consultations with fellow lawmakers to gauge support for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to legislative insiders.
The outreach comes as the House Committee on Justice prepares to determine probable cause regarding the complaints filed against the Vice President.
Sources indicate that the House leadership is targeting a plenary vote between May 4 and 11. To successfully elevate the case to the Senate for trial, the chamber requires a minimum of 106 votes.
One source, as reported by Abante, described the presidential son’s recent activities as a preliminary survey of the chamber’s sentiment.
“Parang nagpaparamdam siya sa mga congressmen. Parang naghe-headcount,” the source stated.
Beyond the impeachment proceedings, the discussions have also touched upon the release of billions in government funds currently tagged under the “For Later Release” (FLR) mechanism.
These allocations are earmarked for vital projects within the Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health, including medical assistance and infrastructure such as school buildings and farm-to-market roads.
The timing of the fund releases has sparked speculation among observers, with suggestions that the movement of these allocations may be synchronized with the efforts to consolidate votes for the upcoming impeachment decision.
“Isa rin siguro sa reason kaya nagtatawag si Majo ay yung FLR. Baka ipinangako na lalabas na,” the source added.
While the House Committee on Justice remains confident that the complaints will advance, the “headcount” led by Marcos underscores the administration’s focus on securing a solid majority before the transition to the plenary floor.