The National Unity Party (NUP) and the Liberal Party (LP) have decided to allow their respective members to vote according to their conscience in the upcoming plenary vote of the House of Representatives regarding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
NUP Position
According to NUP chairman and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, the party will not impose a party stand to respect the freedom of each legislator in fulfilling their duty under the Constitution. Puno emphasized that the NUP remains an ally of the administration, but on the issue of impeachment, the individual judgment of each member should prevail.
Liberal Party Decision
Liberal Party president and former Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III confirmed that a “conscience vote” will also be the position of their party. He said this was agreed upon by their House contingent in a meeting on March 3. Tañada’s statement followed the decision of Caloocan Rep. Edgar “Egay” Erice not to attend the voting, believing that the impeachment issue is merely a result of the conflict between the Duterte and Marcos families.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) Stand
On the part of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), House Assistant Majority Leader Javier Miguel Benitez said that their party has reached an agreement after discussions on the hearings. However, he refused to disclose their vote until the plenary itself. Benitez also denied reports of threats or bribery among congressmen regarding the impeachment, insisting that what is happening is “consensus building.”
Impeachment Process
The House currently has 318 members. At least one-third, or 106 votes, is needed to approve the Articles of Impeachment and transmit them to the Senate, which will sit as the impeachment court.
