Quezon city: The minimum 106 required votes to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte are 'not difficult to reach,' according to House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts chair, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon. Ridon highlighted the substantial evidence presented against the Vice President as a pivotal factor in achieving the necessary support for impeachment.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ridon stated during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City that the financial evidence, including allegations of PHP612.5 million in misused confidential funds, is a solid foundation for the impeachment case. He noted that the key evidence involves a PHP448 million amount that the Vice President is being asked to return, as disallowed by the Commission on Audit.

Ridon further elaborated on the issue of unexplained wealth, referencing PHP6.7 billion in transactions attributed to the Duterte-Carpio couple. He also pointed to threats allegedly made against top officials, all of which contributed to the House Committee on Justice's unanimous vote finding probable cause for impeachment.

The Constitution requires a vote of at least one-third of the 318 House members, or 106 votes, to forward the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Ridon announced that a committee meeting to approve the report is scheduled for Monday, with plenary deliberations expected soon thereafter.

Ridon emphasized the timeline, stating that the articles could be transmitted to the Senate within two weeks, effectively completing the impeachment process. He dismissed Vice President Duterte's assertion that the inquiry is a 'fishing expedition,' asserting that the substantial financial figures presented evidence a more significant issue.

Finally, Ridon rejected claims from Duterte's camp that the complaints are flawed, arguing these assertions have been repeatedly debunked during the proceedings.