House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno has expressed confidence that the House of Representatives will successfully gather enough votes to secure the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The veteran lawmaker and former cabinet official stated that reaching the constitutional requirement—which dictates that one-third of the chamber’s 318 members, or 106 lawmakers, must approve the measure—is well within reach.
“So what are the odds? Kung pumupusta ka sa karera ng kabayo, panalo na siguro itong kabayo na ito kasi 106 lang ang kailangan,” Puno said.
Puno pointed to the commanding numerical presence of the chamber’s dominant political groups, starting with Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). Led by former Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, the party boasts nearly 70 members.
“Lakas is still the biggest party, and Lakas is the father party of this impeachment complaint. Siguro halos lahat ang tingin ko sa Lakas will vote for impeachment,” he said.
Furthermore, Puno anticipated strong backing from the National Unity Party (NUP), where he serves as chairman. Boasting 55 members, the NUP is the second-largest bloc in the lower house, and its lawmakers are widely expected to support the move.
He added that the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the political party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. which holds 51 seats, is similarly poised to endorse the unseating of the Vice President.
“Even the most elementary of counting will bring you to that number very easily. Ang tanong is whether marami ba?” Puno said.
“And I think that is what the leadership is trying to do now. They’re trying to bring it to a number that shows that at least a majority of the House is in favor of this impeachment complaint being sent to the Senate,” he added.
The lower house also counts other influential political coalitions among its ranks, such as the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the Nacionalista Party.
Duterte previously faced impeachment last year when 215 members of the House endorsed a separate complaint against her. The chamber is slated to hold its plenary vote on the current impeachment case on May 11.