MANILA - The House of Representatives will prioritize the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano against President Rodrigo Duterte.

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said he will meet with Justice Committee chair Rey Umali to hammer out the timetable for the deliberations on the case.

"Yung referral ng Speaker sa committee, andun sa rules, gagalaw na 'yan, ise-set na namin ni Chairman Umali by the next 12 session days, i-tatackle. Maaga na this week, next week most probably we will convene the Committee on Justice," he said.

The Justice Committee, upon referral by the Speaker, will determine if the complaint is sufficient in form, substance and grounds, and if it has probable cause.

According to Fariñas, the complaint may be dismissed quickly if it fails the first tests.

"Yung impeachment against the President is, like I said, pursuant to our rules. The Speaker will refer it to the Committee on Justice. Pagdating sa Committee on Justice, the Committee will meet, schedule it, and first determine if there is sufficiency in form. If it fails to pass the test of sufficiency in form, imo-move na kaagad for the dismissal. 'Yan 'yung nangyari kay PNoy (Noynoy Aquino) 'di ba? Meron din si PNoy, ganun din nangyari," he explained.

"If it passes sufficiency in form, it will now need sufficiency in substance. Kung 'yun na-meet ang sufficiency in substance, how does it meet to get that? Magbobotohan ang members. One member can say: I move, we find the impeachment complaint sufficient in form, or meron namang mag-move in the negative manner: I move that we find the complaint insufficient in form, magbobotohan 'yan. Kung ano ang mas maraming boto, 'yun ang masusunod," Fariñas added.

Fariñas maintained the impeachment case against Duterte remains without widespread support.

"Magi-impeach, mag-isa siya. As of now, wala pa ako nabalitaan [na sasali]; in fact, nabasa ko lang, the LP (Liberal Party) said they will not join. Mag-isa sa committee kung magbobotohan, depende na kung ano lalabas," he said.

He also admitted that this may momentarily disrupt the work of Congress.

"Di naman. Trabaho naman namin. 'Yung Committee on Justice, maabala nang konti 'yung posisyon on possible other offenses na sasama sa death penalty. 'Yun lang ang madi-disrupt," Fariñas said.

Fariñas added the same procedure will apply to a looming impeachment case against Vice President Leni Robredo should it be filed.

"Ganun din 'yun, depende kung may mag-eendorse. Kung wala mag-eendorse, basura 'yun, katulad nung kay Rep. Gary Alejano. It moved to the level where the Speaker will have to refer it to the Committee on Justice because it was filed by a member. Kasi nakalagay po sa Constitution, 'yung impeachment complaint must be filed by a member or filed by any citizen but endorsed by a member of the House of Representatives. Kung may mag-file, walang mag-endorse, hanggang dun na lang 'yun. It's a scrap of paper," he explained.

Alejano wants Duterte impeached for extrajudicial killings, corruption, and the stand of the government on the West Philippine Sea.

Robredo's critics, on the other hand, want her impeached for her allegations that 7,000 have died in the war on drugs.

• READ: Impeachment filed vs Duterte in House over drug war