Impeachment prosecutor expects backlash after 41 Mindanao solons endorse complaint vs. VP Sara

The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday on betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, among other grounds, over alleged misuse of funds and for threatening the President and his family members.

Of the 215 House members who signed the impeachment complaint, 41 lawmakers are from Mindanao, the known bailiwick of the Dutertes where they held political power, particularly in Davao City, since over two decades ago.

Duterte also once served as Davao mayor and vice mayor before running for vice president.

Lanao Del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, one of the designated prosecutors for the trial, acknowledged impeaching the Vice President could have a political backlash on the signatories but said he could not turn a blind eye to the alleged crimes of the country’s second highest official.

“Well, as someone from Mindanao, alam ko po yan. Naintindihan ko. Hindi ko lang ko naintindihan, nararamdaman ko po. But once you’re elected to an office, you are expected, not only by the Constitution, by the people, to act in certain ways. You have to maintain and uphold the integrity of your office. Ito pong sa impeachment case na ito, these are serious offenses, high crimes committed by the Vice President,” Adiong said in a press conference.

(I understand, and I even feel that [possible backlash]. But for this impeachment case, these are serious offenses.)

“We cannot be more concerned about the possible backlash that it may cost us politically. Paano ko iharap ang sarili ko sa aking mga botante if I just simply concern myself with the possible popularity that I may get once if I associate myself with who is popular and who has the tendency or the capacity to give me votes in the election? Paano ko po ihaharap ang sarili ko sa aking mga botante if I turned a blind eye on these high crimes that were committed blatantly under the sun? I can no longer turn a blind eye on these allegations and just simply brush it off simply because I am from Mindanao,” Adiong, who supported the Vice President during the 2022 elections, added.

(How can I face my voters if I turn a blind eye to these high crimes?)

Davao del Sur Representative John Tracy Cagas was the lone House member from Davao Region who signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

The full list of House members from Mindanao who backed the impeachment bid against the Vice President:

1. Agusan Del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose Aquino
2. Agusan Del Sur 1st District Rep. Alfelito Bascug
3. Agusan Del Sur 2nd District Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza
4. Bukidnon 1st District Rep. Jose Manuel Alba
5. Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Keith Flores
6. Bukidnon 4th District Rep. Laarni Roque
7. Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan
8. Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo
9. Cotabato 1st District Rep. Joselito Sacdalan
10. Cotabato 3rd District Rep. Alana Santos
11. Davao Del Sur Rep. John Tracy Cagas
12. Dinagat Island Rep. Alan Ecleo
13. General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon
14. Iligan City Rep. Celso Regencia
15. Lanao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Sittie Aminah Dimaporo
16. Lanao Del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong
17. Lanao Del Sur 2nd District Rep. Yasser Balindong
18. Maguindanao and Cotabato City Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura
19. Maguindanao Del Sur Rep. Mohamad Paglas Sr.
20. Misamis Occidental 1st District Rep. Jason Almonte
21. Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal
22. Misamis Oriental 1st District Rep. Christian Unabia
23. Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Emano
24. Sarangani Rep. Steve Solon
25. Surigao Del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II
26. Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers
27. Surigao Del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo
28. Surigao Del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel
29. South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Isidro Lumayag
30. South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Peter Miguel
31. Sulu 1st District Rep. Samier Tan
32. Sulu 2nd District Rep. Munir Arbison Jr.
33. Tawi-Tawi Rep. Dimszar Sali
34. Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe
35. Zamboanga Del Norte 1st District Rep. Roberto Uy Jr.
36. Zamboanga Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Glona Labadlabad
37. Zamboanga Del Norte 3rd District Rep. Adrian Amatong
38. Zamboanga Del Sur 1st District Rep. Divina Grace Yu
39. Zamboanga Del Sur 2nd District Rep. Jeyzel Victoria Yu
40. Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Palma
41. Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District Rep. Antonieta Eudela

A total of 20 House members from Mindanao did not sign the impeachment complaint:

1. Dale Corvera, Agusan del Norte
2. Mujiv Hataman, Basilan
3. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr., Bukidnon
4. Rufus Rodriguez, Cagayan de Oro
5. Rudy Caoagdan, Cotabato
6. Vincent Garcia, Davao City
7. Isidro Ungab, Davao City
8. Maria Carmen Zamora, Davao de Oro
9. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Davao de Oro
10. Pantaleon Alvarez, Davao del Norte
11. Alan Dujali, Davao del Norte
12. Claude Bautista, Davao Occidental
13. Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental
14. Cheeno Almario, Davao Oriental
15. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo , Lanao del Norte
16.  Aminah Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte
17. Rihan Sakaluran, Sultan Kudarat
18. Horacio Suansing Jr., Sultan Kudarat,
19. Munir Arbison Jr., Sulu
20. Khymer Adan Olaso, Zamboanga City

Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the 11 lawmakers who will serve as prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Duterte, said he has nothing against those who did not sign the impeachment complaint.

“We have nothing to say bad about them. Maybe it’s safe to say that for those who did not sign, there are personal dynamics within their jurisdiction that’s why they did not sign. Maybe there are personal relations that they took into consideration whether they will sign or not,” Defensor said in a press conference.

“And we respect that. Marami kaming pumirma. Marami din naman silang hindi pumirma. Kaya masasabi mong walang pilitan at walang regret ang hindi pumirma. Wala rin regret ang pumirma,” he added.

(And we respect that. Many of us signed, and many also did not sign. So you can say that no one was forced and no one regretted their decision.)

The Senate adjourned on Wednesday without tackling the impeachment case. This means the proceedings will only start in June, after the May 12 elections.—LDF, GMA Integrated News