The House Committee on Justice continued its deliberations on Wednesday, March 4, on the verified impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, declaring two separate complaints sufficient in substance.

The third complaint, filed by Reverend Father Joel Saballa and others and endorsed Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila M. De Lima, was approved by the panel with 54 votes in favor, one against (Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay), and no abstentions.

“The Chair declares the sufficiency in substance of Saballa et al impeachment complaint,” the panel announced.

Similarly, the fourth complaint, filed by Atty. Nathaniel G. Cabrera and endorsed by Reps. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. and Paolo P. Ortega V, received the same voting outcome. The chair likewise declared it sufficient in substance.

“Our vote today is not a verdict of guilt nor an act of condemnation. It is simply a decision whether the constitutional process should move forward,” House Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato emphasized.

Only two impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte remain, following the withdrawal of a second complaint by Tindig Pilipinas, which chose to support the third complaint, citing the same allegations.

Meanwhile, the first complaint, filed by former ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and others, was set aside by the panel for violating the one-year bar rule.

With the panel’s determination, Vice President Duterte is set to receive a formal notice and will have 10 calendar days to respond to the third and fourth complaints.