Nine Cebu lawmakers faced fierce online criticism after signing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday.
This came after 215 House members backed the resolution to impeach Duterte, surpassing the required two-thirds majority.
The backlash was particularly intense on social media, with critics targeting lawmakers who have close ties to the Duterte political family. Among those most criticized were Fifth District Congressman Vincent “Duke” Frasco, whose wife Christina Garcia Frasco is now the secretary of Tourism. The Frascos were also linked to Vice President Duterte through her past relationship with Christina, who had once served as Duterte’s spokesperson.
Also facing heavy criticism was Cebu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, whose wife, Rep. Cindi Chan, signed the impeachment complaint. The pressure became so intense that Mayor Chan turned off his Facebook page to avoid further negative comments.
Other lawmakers who were attacked online included First District Rep. Rhea Gullas, whose husband Gerald “Samsam” Gullas is Talisay City Mayor, and Mandaue City Representative Emmarie “Lollypop” Ouano-Dizon.
Ouano-Dizon’s political background is also significant, as her husband, Nixon “JoJo” Dizon, remains Cebu’s provincial chairman of the PDP.
Rep. Eduardo Roa Rama, representing Cebu City’s Second District, also found himself a target of harsh criticism. Rama’s uncle, Michael Rama, the former Cebu City mayor, currently serves as the vice president for the Visayas of the PDP.
The criticism didn’t stop at politicians. Several other Cebu lawmakers such as Edsel Galeos (Second District, Cebu Province), Janice Salimbangon (Fourth District), Daphne Lagon (Sixth District), and Peter John Calderon (Seventh District) also faced public backlash for their support of the impeachment.
On the flip side, two Cebu representatives, First District Rep. Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” Del Mar and Third District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, received praise for abstaining from signing the impeachment complaint. Both Del Mar and Garcia, who are seen as influential figures in Cebu, have yet to publicly comment on their decision.
The public’s sentiment toward the impeachment is divided, with some openly supporting it while others feel it is politically motivated.
Liza, a resident of Caloocan City, expressed frustration at what she believed to be a politically motivated attack on Duterte.
“It’s just a way of smearing Vice President Sara Duterte,” she said, adding that she would even join a People Power movement if Duterte called for it.
On the other hand, Miggy, a call center agent, supported the impeachment, citing the alleged mismanagement of confidential funds. He pointed to the unaccounted P612.5 million in funds that were allegedly misused during Duterte’s time as Secretary of the Department of Education. Miggy argued that these actions, along with Duterte’s controversial threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials, justified her impeachment.
In response to the accusations, Joanne, a first-time voter in the 2025 elections, said she was particularly disturbed by the Vice President’s “street thug” behavior and her disrespectful remarks toward top government officials.
Joanne described the Vice President’s conduct during a Zoom call, where she made threatening comments about the President, as one of the key reasons for supporting her impeachment.