President Rodrigo Duterte. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – The House of Representatives might start deliberating on the impeachment complaint filed against President Rodrigo Duterte as early as May 15.

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas told media that the complaint filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano had already been referred by the Speaker's office to the Rules Committee, so that it can in turn be referred to the Justice Committee, the panel tasked to handle impeachment cases.

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

"Yes, it was referred to the Committee on Rules yesterday, and I had it included in our Agenda for Tuesday, May 9. If the Committee on Rules decides to have it included in the Order of Business for Tuesday or Wednesday, it will then be referred to the Committee of Justice," Farinas said.

The timetable that he is looking at, the lawmaker said, is that it will be included in the agenda on Tuesday, with the plenary referring it to the Committee on Justice on the same day.

The panel can then schedule the complaint for hearing “on May 15 and/or thereafter.”

“We will give priority to it considering that the highest official of the land is the subject of the complaint," Farinas said.