All of the Negros Island Region (NIR) representatives voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, May 11.
They were among the House members who voted 257–25–9 to impeach Duterte for the second time.
The Negros Occidental representatives who voted for the impeachment were Julio Ledesma (1st District), Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District), Javier Miguel Benitez (3rd District), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District), Emilio Bernardino Yulo (5th District), and Mercedes Alvarez (6th District).
Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Rep. Manuel Fredrick Ko (Abang Lingkod) also voted yes.
The Negros Oriental representatives who voted for the impeachment were Emmanuel Iway (1st District), Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria (2nd District), and Janice Degamo (3rd District), along with Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa.
Following the vote, the House of Representatives ordered the transmission of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Senate, which is expected to convene as an impeachment court.
Duterte faces allegations involving misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, graft and corruption, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
SENATE COUP
This developed as Duterte allies carried out a coup in the Senate on Monday.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate President on Monday, replacing Senator Vicente Sotto III.
Thirteen senators voted in favor of the motion to change the chamber’s leadership, while 10 voted against it and two abstained.
Those who abstained were Senator JV Ejercito and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who both have roots in Negros Occidental.
“I will just remain as an independent member of the Senate so I can concentrate on my advocacies and pet programs, especially the Universal Healthcare Law, whoever the leadership of the Senate will be,” Ejercito said.
Those who voted for leadership change were senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Rodante Marcoleta, Christopher Lawrence Go, Robinhood Padilla, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and Francis Escudero.
Those who voted “No” were senators Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, and Sherwin Gatchalian.
PRAYING FOR FAIR TRIAL
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said “changes in Senate leadership naturally raise public questions about the impeachment process. What is important now is that our institutions remain faithful to the Constitution, due process, and the pursuit of truth.”
“The Filipino people deserve a process that is fair, transparent, and free from partisan manipulation. We pray that all our leaders will act not out of political interest, but out of conscience and genuine service to the nation,” he said.
“Let us together fulfill our civic duties and responsibilities by ensuring that there is a fair and credible trial — one that allows all of us to see and hear clear, verified, and trustworthy evidence and arguments,” the bishop appealed to the Filipino people.
“We must also remain vigilant and closely monitor the conduct of the trial. In doing so, we protect ourselves and our nation from fake news, disinformation, and manipulation,” Alminaza added.*
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