Most Cebu solons mum on impeachment votes

CEBU, Philippines —  Several Cebu lawmakers have remained silent after participating in Monday’s nominal voting at the House of Representatives that resulted in the second impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Except for those who publicly voted against the impeachment, none of Cebu’s district representatives have issued statements explaining their respective votes. Their official Facebook pages also carried no clarification following the plenary session.

All Cebu lawmakers were present during the voting, but only those who voted “No” verbally declared their positions when their names were called during the proceedings.

Among those who openly opposed the impeachment were Third District Rep. Karen Flores-Garcia, Fourth District Rep. Sun Shimura, Cebu City North District Rep. Cutie del Mar, and Malasakit at Bayanihan Partylist Rep. Girlie Veloso.

The remaining Cebu district representatives did not verbally announce their votes during the session.

The Freeman sought clarification from the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives through email to determine the official voting status of Cebu lawmakers who did not publicly signify their votes. As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the office had only acknowledged receipt of the inquiry.

Unofficial sources, however, indicated that Cebu City South District Rep. Eduardo Rama; Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Junard Chan; Mandaue City Lone District Rep. Emmarie Ouano-Dizon; First District Rep. Rhea Gullas; Second District Rep. Edsel Galeos; Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco; Sixth District Rep. Daphne Lagon, and Seventh District Rep. Patricia Calderon voted in favor of the impeachment.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Garcia defended her “No” vote, saying impeachment proceedings are both legal and political in nature.

“Supreme Court decisions and the opinions of jurists, both here and in the US, indicate that impeachment is an extraordinary remedy, an emergency mechanism designed to protect the state, which must be used with much caution as it could potentially overturn the mandate of tens of millions of voters,” Garcia said.

She added that she did not believe the allegations contained in the impeachment resolution warranted such an extraordinary remedy.

Garcia also said she consulted elected officials in Cebu’s third district before casting her vote.

“I sought the views of the elected officials of the six municipalities and one city, including the barangay captains of all 230 barangays of the third district of Cebu. And I can say with authority that the overwhelming, even near-unanimous, sentiment is against the impeachment of the Vice President,” she said.

According to Garcia, many constituents feared the impeachment proceedings would further divide the country and distract Congress from pressing national concerns such as inflation, the energy crisis, and rising prices of basic commodities.

Shimura likewise cited the sentiments of his constituents in explaining his opposition to the impeachment complaint.

“To the people of the Fourth District, I thank you for giving me the courage to vote no. I have heeded your call, and I remain committed to standing for the best interests of the people I serve,” Shimura said in a statement.

Del Mar also reiterated her opposition to the impeachment proceedings.

“The will of my constituents remains clear. For Cebu City’s North District, it was a no in the 19th Congress, and I will once again vote ‘No’ for the 20th Congress,” Del Mar said.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Tuesday urged the Senate to immediately convene as an impeachment court and proceed with Duterte’s trial, stressing the need to uphold justice, truth, and the rule of law.

The statement, titled “Serve the Common Good in the Pursuit of Justice and Truth,” was issued by CBCP president Gilbert A. Garcera following the House vote to impeach the Vice President and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.

“The House of Representatives, heeding the overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino people and finding probable cause, has voted by far more than the requisite one-third of its membership to impeach the Vice President and, as directed by the Constitution, to forward the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial,” the statement read.

The CBCP called on senators to fulfill their constitutional duty by proceeding with the trial, summoning witnesses, hearing testimonies, and deciding the case based on evidence and justice.

“We urge the Senators to avoid any act that may be perceived as evading their sworn duty or circumventing the requirements of the Constitution,” the bishops said.

The bishops also warned against delaying the proceedings, saying any postponement would deny timely justice both to the Filipino people and to the Vice President.

“We make this urgent appeal not to delay the trial and to convene the Senate as an impeachment court at the soonest possible time. To delay the trial is to delay justice for both the Filipino people and the Vice President,” the CBCP added.

The bishops likewise encouraged Filipinos to remain vigilant and engaged throughout the impeachment process to ensure transparency and credibility.

“To our fellow Filipinos, let us fulfill our civic duties and responsibilities by ensuring a fair and credible trial so that all may see and hear clear, verified evidence and arguments,” the statement said.

The CBCP also cautioned against misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation, emphasizing the need to safeguard public discourse and strengthen democratic institutions.

The bishops expressed hope that the constitutional process would ultimately establish the truth and reinforce respect for the rule of law, which they described as a cornerstone of a stable democracy. — (FREEMAN)