Some House lawmakers who voted no on VP Sara impeachment eye Senate Seat

Gunning for a political post in the 12 May election, whether it be national or local, has been viewed as one of the potential impediments to impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte in the House of Representatives.

It had been speculated that congressmen who are seeking re-election or a Senate seat may not vote in favor of her impeachment for fear that it may severely affect their prospects in the mid-term election.

ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, a prominent ally of the administration, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez did not vote for the impeachment. The rationale was that he wanted “to ensure that my judgment remains impartial should I become a senator-judge.”

“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,” Tulfo said on Thursday.

Tulfo is running for a senatorial seat and consistently leads various surveys.

Aside from Tulfo, House members eyeing a Senate seat who also did not sign the impeachment complaint include Reps. Camille Villar, Eric Martinez (Valenzuela), Wilbert Lee (Agri Partylist), Bonifacio Bosita (1-Rider Partylist), as well as Rodante Marcoleta, although the latter is a known ally of the Dutertes.

The VP’s brother, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, who was among those who did not sign the petition, criticized the impeachment as politically motivated, accusing his peers of fabricating accusations against her and “railroading” the process.

He warned that the Marcos administration would face the consequences of this action, pointing to the INC’s nationwide protest in January as a sign of growing discontent.

Other prominent allies of the Dutertes who did sign the petition were former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Speaker and Davao Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, and former deputy speaker and Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab.

Ungab called the impeachment effort against VP Duterte a “futile exercise” and an attempt to “divert” public attention from the “anomalous budget process, as shown by the 28 blank items in the bicameral report.”

To recall, both Arroyo and Ungab were ousted by the House as deputy speakers in November 2023. Their removal followed their failure to sign a resolution seeking to uphold the honor and integrity of the lower chamber amid verbal attacks and corruption allegations by former president Rodrigo Duterte against the institution.

Aside from Tulfo, Villar, Paolo, Arroyo, Alvarez, Ungab, Marcoleta, Martinez, Lee, and Bosita, 81 House members also did not vote in favor of the VP’s impeachment.

This includes, among others, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, Davao Rep. Cheeno Almario and wife, PBA Rep. Margarita Nograles, Cagayan Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Tutok-to-Win Rep. Sam Versoza, and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman — all are running for a respective post in this year’s mid-term election.