Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre refuted claims that collecting House Justice Committee members’ signatures was a necessary step for the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to advance to the House plenary.

In an interview on Isyung Pambayan, Acidre said that like other House committees, only the justice committee chair and secretary need to sign the report before it is presented before the panel and voted on, before it proceeds to the House plenary.

In addition, he said the members’ final votes will be cast on Monday, May 4.

“Ang totoo po niyan, noong last meeting, inatasan po ang ating secretariat na mag-draft ng committee report. Pero ang committee report na ‘yan ay ia-approve at ipe-present pa lang sa meeting namin bukas ng justice committee, kung saan magbobotohan,” he told RH 12 Milky Rigonan.

“Sa practice ng mababang kapulungan, ang pumipirma lang ng committee report ay ang chairman ng komite, at kasama po ‘yung committee secretary. At ang nangyayari lang po, bumoboto lang po kami to approve the committee report, so hindi po totoo na kailangan may co-author doon sa committee report,” he added.

Acidre said it was apparent that the individual who had spread news about members refusing to sign the justice panel report was not familiar with the procedures of the lower chamber of Congress.

“I think itong gumawa ng kuwentong ito, wala pong alam o hindi po masyadong updated sa proseso na ginagawa ng mga committees sa House,”

On May 4, the justice plenary will come to a final decision regarding Duterte’s impeachment and possibly prepare for its formal submission to the plenary by next week.