Vice President Sara Duterte appears headed for another impeachment showdown as support in the House of Representatives continued to grow ahead of the formal vote next week.
Initial counts from several political blocs showed that lawmakers backing the complaint had already surpassed the number required to transmit the case to the Senate for trial.
Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre said around 47 members of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. were prepared to support the impeachment charges against Duterte.
He said discussions within the coalition shifted after lawmakers reviewed the evidence tied to the complaint, leading more members to favor the impeachment move.
With support coming from the Party-list Coalition, the National Unity Party, and Lakas-CMD, the estimated vote count had reached at least 137 lawmakers.
Under the Constitution, at least 106 votes are required in the House to elevate an impeachment complaint to the Senate, which serves as the impeachment court.
Several lawmakers earlier claimed the actual number of supporters could be significantly higher. Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said nearly 200 lawmakers were prepared to vote in favor of the complaint, while Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong separately estimated support at around 180 lawmakers.
Last year, the House endorsed impeachment articles against Duterte with the backing of 215 lawmakers, but the Supreme Court later nullified the process after finding procedural violations, including a breach of the constitutional prohibition against multiple impeachment proceedings within a one-year period.