The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) issued a stern warning on Saturday, May 9, 2026, stating that lawmakers who support the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte will not be accepted into the party. In a statement released on May 10, the party accused proponents of the impeachment of using the constitutional process as a political weapon rather than a legitimate mechanism for accountability, especially amid pressing national issues.
Political Refuge Denied
The party declared that any official voting in favor of impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte should not expect political refuge within PDP-Laban. Such officials would be barred from transferring to the party or running under its banner in future elections. PDP-Laban also signaled its intention to field and support strong candidates against those lawmakers in their respective districts if necessary.
Political Maneuvering Ahead of 2028
PDP-Laban maintained that the impeachment drive against Duterte is part of long-term political maneuvering ahead of the 2028 national elections and is no longer solely about constitutional accountability. The party argued that the country continues to face pressing concerns such as rising prices, corruption allegations, weakening public trust in institutions, and broader governance issues, making the impeachment push appear politically motivated.
The party also referenced reports that some organized groups, including religious and civic organizations, were allegedly considering political consequences for officials supporting the impeachment bid. While PDP-Laban noted that these reports remain unverified, it emphasized that elected officials must still face political accountability for their decisions. The party clarified, "This is not intimidation. This is political accountability."
Undermining the Mandate
PDP-Laban argued that the impeachment move seeks to undermine the mandate Duterte received from more than 32 million Filipino voters in the 2022 elections. The party stated, "PDP stands with the constitutional order. PDP stands with the sovereign will of the people. PDP stands against the weaponization of impeachment for political elimination."
Impeachment Proceedings
The statement came as impeachment complaints against Duterte continued to draw scrutiny in the House of Representatives. Critics accused the Vice President of misusing confidential and intelligence funds, among other issues raised during congressional hearings and public debates. Duterte and her allies denied wrongdoing and described the allegations as politically motivated attacks aimed at weakening the Duterte bloc ahead of the next presidential race.
On May 11, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte for the second time, with 257 lawmakers voting in favor, 25 against, and nine abstaining. This far exceeded the constitutional requirement needed to transmit the complaint to the Senate for trial. The political landscape in the Senate also shifted shortly before the House vote after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, considered an ally of the Duterte family, emerged as Senate president. Cayetano later said impeachment proceedings should follow constitutional processes and evidence.
Regional Opposition
Several lawmakers from the Davao Region publicly opposed the impeachment, including Representatives Nelson Dayanghirang Jr., Omar Vincent Duterte, Paolo Duterte, and Isidro Ungab. Meanwhile, the positions of Representatives Cheeno Miguel Almario, Claude Bautista, John Tracy Cagas, Leonel Ceniza, Jose Manuel Lagdameo, De Carlo Uy, and Maria Carmen Zamora had yet to be publicly confirmed. Political observers expect the impeachment controversy to remain a dominant national issue in the coming months as political groups begin positioning for the 2028 elections.
