MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives will be tackling during plenary session on Thursday, September 7, verified impeachment complaints against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista.

There are two verified complaints – one endorsed by 25 lawmakers and another by 16 – against Sereno. Three lawmakers, meanwhile, endorsed the impeachment complaint against Bautista.

The complaints were filed before the House secretary general and then relayed to the House Speaker. The Office of the House Speaker officially transmitted the complaints to the committee on rules. It will be formally referred to the committee on justice during plenary session.

The justice committee, headed by Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Rey Umali, will be tasked to deliberate if the complaint is sufficient in form and substance and if there is probably cause. A majority vote by the committee is needed for it to move on to plenary. (READ: FAST FACTS: How does impeachment work?)

If there is probable cause, the resolution will include the Articles of Impeachment by the time it reaches plenary. If one-third of the House – current dominated by a “supermajority” of administration allies – is in favor of the resolution, it will be forwarded to the Senate, which will sit as the impeachment court.

Umali said he expects the committee to begin deliberations on the impeachment complaints next week or as soon as budget deliberations end.

Plenary debates for the proposed 2018 budget are expected to end Tuesday, September 12. – Rappler.com