More lawmakers want to endorse VP impeachment

At least 25 more lawmakers who were unable to attend Wednesday’s plenary session at the House of Representatives have signified their intention to endorse the fourth complaint that led to the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

If the additional endorsers are permitted, this will raise the total number of signatories from 215 to 240, representing more than 75 percent of the House membership.

At least 41 out of 60 Mindanao lawmakers backed the impeachment of Duterte, a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism showed.

Davao del Sur Rep. John Tracy Cagas was the only one out of 11 district representatives from the Davao region to endorse the imeachment rap.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, seven out of its eight lawmakers were among the signatories. Only Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman did not sign the complaint.

Former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo did not sign the fourth impeachment complaint.

Among the senatorial candidates in the House, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, Agri Rep. Wilbert Lee, Sagip Party-List Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita did not sign the complaint.

Bosita’s colleague at the 1-Rider party-list group, Rep. Ramon Gutierrez, however, signed the complaint and will serve as prosecutor.

Tulfo, a frontrunner in the senatorial race, said he must remain impartial given that the impeachment trial could involve the next batch of senators.

“As a top contender in the upcoming senatorial elections, I may be among the new senators tasked with judging the said impeachment complaint. When that time comes, I will meticulously examine every piece of evidence presented before the body,” he said.

Tulfo and Villar are part of the administration senatorial slate Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas for the May midterm polls.

For his part, Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor said the overwhelming support of a supermajority of lawmakers was the result of consultations among representatives from various political parties such as Lakas-CMD, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, National Unity Party, Nationalists People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, ,and the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc.

“We were able to come up with a strong and clearer complaint that is able to get support and confidence among fellow legislators,” he said.

“That is why with this fourth impeachment complaint, where the evidence is presented in a stronger manner, it gave confidence to more than 200 congressmen to act as complainants,” Defensor added.

President Ferdinand Marcos, for his part, said he does not believe claims that “ayuda” changed hands for the vote of lawmakers supporting the impeachment.

“Clearly, they (those peddling the claim) are undermining the process by saying that,” he said.

“I don’t think so. The vote was overwhelming — 215. And from what I understand, more wanted to endorse it but they were out of town. In fact, they were asking if e-signature cab be allowed but it seems it cannot be allowed.”

“I don’t think that kind of two-thirds –just a little bit over two-thirds — you cannot get that with that kind of system (“ayuda”). I’ve been in Congress. I don’t think that way of operating would have worked — certainly not to the extent that you get 215 signatures,” the President added.

He also dismissed the criticism of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte that the impeachment of his sister was politically motivated.

“What else will he say? Of course, he will not say that it is right,” Marcos said.

“We have heard these statements from Congressman Pulong before, so that’s not exactly surprising,” he added. — Maricel Cruz