In a historic move, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, making her the first Philippine vice president to face such proceedings. A total of 215 out of 306 lawmakers backed the impeachment complaint, which stemmed from allegations surrounding her use of confidential funds.
The list of signatories includes key political figures, notably House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Despite the president’s stance of non-interference, his son was the first to sign the complaint. House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of the president, was the last to affix his signature.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe were also among the first to back the impeachment bid. TINGOG Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, wife of Speaker Romualdez, also signed the complaint, along with other high-profile lawmakers such as Rep. Ralph Tulfo and his mother, Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo. Aniela Tolentino, niece of Senator Francis Tolentino, also supported the motion.
Of particular note is the split in support among Mindanao lawmakers. While Davao del Sur Rep. John Tracy Cagas was the only district representative from the Davao region to sign the complaint, 41 out of 60 Mindanao legislators backed the impeachment effort. This indicates a significant shift in political dynamics in the region once dominated by the Duterte family.
Conversely, several lawmakers refrained from signing the impeachment complaint. Among them were Pampanga Second District Rep. and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo, Cavite Representatives Lani Mercado and Jolo Revilla, Agimat Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla, and CIBAC Party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva. Their decision not to participate in the impeachment process is notable given their affiliations and political influence.
The impeachment proceedings now move forward to the Senate, where senator-judges will determine whether Duterte should be removed from office. This marks a significant political event, as the country watches how this process will unfold in the coming weeks.
