“I’m confident that whatever the findings of the justice committee, we will get the one-third approval of the plenary,” said Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas in a text message.

Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said getting the necessary 94 votes out of the 283-strong House would be “easy” considering President Benigno Benigno Aquino III’s influence in the lower chamber.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said the President had made it clear that he wanted Gutierrez out, and “I don’t think the majority will fail him.”

“If the House is finally allowed to vote on the impeachment case in the plenary, it will be upheld,” said Barzaga.

The Supreme Court rejected last week Gutierrez’s plea to block the impeachment case against her in the House.

Gutierrez argued that it was unlawful for the House to entertain two impeachment complaints against her (only one is allowed per year) but the high court ruled that there was no violation since there would only be one impeachment proceeding.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has instructed the House justice committee, which is handling the case, to wait until the high court rules on Gutierrez’s motion for reconsideration.

“Having waited several months for the SC decision, it is but logical to wait for the finality of its decision. Unless, of course, if the SC drags its feet,” said Fariñas.

Fariñas said that while it would be ideal for the House to vote on the impeachment case before March 24 when Congress goes on recess, the case would remain valid considering that the 60-day limit on processing the complaint was far from over.

Remulla said the number of session days required by the Constitution for the House to vote on the issue was also “easily obtainable.”

The House is waiting for Gutierrez’s reply to the charge that she refused to act on corruption cases filed against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her family. These include the bribery-tainted $329-million national broadband network deal with ZTE Corp., the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, and the extrajudicial killing and forced disappearances of hundreds of activists.

Gutierrez is being accused of betrayal of the public trust and “culpable violation” of the Constitution due to her alleged inaction on these high-profile graft cases during the Arroyo administration.

The impeachment complaint against Gutierrez was filed by several civil society groups last year but hearings on it were suspended last September when the high tribunal, acting on a petition of Gutierrez, issued a restraining order.

The complainants included Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Sister Mary John Mananzan of Pagbabago, Danilo Ramos of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, lawyer Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, Ferdinand Gaite of Courage, and James Terry Ridon of the League of Filipino Students.

Gil Cabacungan, Jr., Phil. Daily Inquirer