Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V. Photo courtesy of PNA.
The House of Representatives will proceed with its scheduled vote on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte and will not be swayed by political pressure, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said Sunday.
Ortega said lawmakers would not be intimidated by threats or warnings from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) ahead of the Monday plenary vote.
He said the House is acting within its constitutional mandate and that impeachment voting should not be treated as a political attack but as a legal and institutional duty.
The statement came after the PDP warned that lawmakers who support the impeachment move could be excluded from the party and face political consequences in future elections.
The party also said it may field rival candidates in congressional districts of lawmakers who vote in favor of transmitting the complaint to the Senate.
Ortega dismissed the warnings, saying Congress would not be influenced by what he described as attempts by a political group to regain relevance.
He said lawmakers are accountable to their constituents and should act based on constitutional obligations rather than party pressure or political threats.
Duterte faces possible impeachment proceedings in the Senate if the House votes to approve and transmit the Articles of Impeachment.