By CESAR JOLITO III

Around 200 members of the House of Representatives are expected to vote in favor of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte when the matter reaches plenary on Monday, May 11, House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.

Benitez, who also heads the Visayan bloc in the Lower House, said consultations with fellow lawmakers indicate strong support for the impeachment move, including from lawmakers in the Visayas and the Negros Island Region (NIR).

He said the majority of bloc members are expected to vote in favor of the complaint, while all representatives from NIR have reportedly expressed support for the measure.

“In all likelihood, the vice president will be impeached based on the evidence presented,” Benitez said, citing discussions among lawmakers and developments during hearings conducted by the House committee on justice.

Despite the projected numbers, Benitez noted that positions may still change before the actual voting takes place.

“We will only know the real final score once voting happens on Monday,” he said, adding that some lawmakers who initially expressed support or opposition may still shift their stance during the session.

The Bacolod solon also dismissed allegations that lawmakers were being paid to vote against the vice president, saying he had neither seen nor heard of such discussions inside the House.

“What I am more concerned about is the weight of the evidence and whether there is probable cause, because that is what the rules of the House require,” he said.

Benitez added that several political parties reportedly conducted internal secret balloting among their members, with the majority allegedly favoring the impeachment complaint./CJ, WDJ