Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Unity Party (NUP) will meet on May 5 to discuss a number of issues including a possible party stand on the impeachment suits against Vice President Sara Duterte, a member said on Friday, May 1.
“Sa May 5, mag-meeting kami, isa sa ita-tackle namin iyon, isa sa agenda namin iyon, kung magkakaroon ng party stand. Pero ang experience ko sa NUP kasi kapag ganyang mga issue, pinababayaan niya yung mga congressman na miyembro niya na mag-decide on their own,” Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano told reporters.
[Translation: On May 5, we will have a meeting, and that will be one of the items we will discuss – one of our agenda points – about whether there will be a party position. But based on my experience with the National Unity Party, in issues like this, it usually lets its congressman-members decide on their own.]
Valeriano said the NUP, the second biggest party at the House of Representatives, was divided on the impeachment complaints against the vice president, prior to the hearings and before the session break mid-March.
In a statement on Feb. 25, the party said it will vote ‘most likely not in favor’ of the impeachment, but maintained openness to evaluating new evidence that may arise from the proceedings.
Valeriano said while he has no personal stance on the complaints for now, he believes the strongest evidence from the hearing was the statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of the vice president.
Records from the Office of the Ombudsman showed that Duterte’s net worth in 2007 grew from ₱7.25 million to ₱88.5 million in 2024. The office also testified that she had not declared cash on hand and deposits from 2019 to 2024, which her defense team later on denied by arguing that it was lumped under other items.
“I will vote based doon sa [on] evidence,” Valeriano said.
The vice president is facing impeachment suits for culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and high crimes, among others over allegations of fund misuse, threats to the presidential family, and unexplained wealth.
The justice committee had ruled there is probable cause to impeach Duterte and is now preparing the articles of impeachment for a plenary vote.
Meanwhile, Valeriano also rejected claims of Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte – the vice president’s brother – that lawmakers have been told to support the impeachment, otherwise funding for their districts will be withheld.
“So tingin ko, ano lang, optics lang nila iyon. Pero yung nagtatawag, nananakot sa tingin mo ba, tulad ko, kaya akong takutin. Baka hindi,” he said.
[Translation: So I think that’s just about optics for them. But the claim that people are calling and threatening us—do you think they could scare someone like me? Maybe not.]
A number of lawmakers previously denied Rep. Duterte’s allegations.
