Iloilo Third District Rep. Lorenz Defensor defended his decision to vote in favor of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the evidence presented before the House of Representatives was too substantial to ignore.

Defensor said he saw no basis to reject the complaint, stressing that the vice president had not directly addressed the allegations raised against her.

“There was no sufficient explanation or justification to dismiss the complaint,” the lawmaker said, adding that it would have been difficult to explain a “no” vote to his constituents amid the issues brought before Congress.

Defensor also denied allegations that House members who supported the impeachment complaint were promised P20 million in maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

According to the lawmaker, there was no need for bribery or coercion, insisting that many lawmakers were convinced by the weight of the evidence presented during deliberations.

Defensor clarified that the House vote was not yet a vote to convict the vice president, but merely a decision to elevate the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, where the actual trial will take place.

“The Senate will determine whether she should be convicted or acquitted,” he said.

Defensor further disclosed that as early as last year, he already believed the complaint carried probable cause and enough substance to proceed, adding that he did not feel pressured in making his decision.

The lawmaker admitted he did not expect as many as 257 members of the House to support the impeachment complaint, but noted that more legislators may have been persuaded after the vice president allegedly failed to directly respond to the accusations.

He also expressed hope that the impeachment trial in the Senate would begin soon, emphasizing the importance of allowing the constitutional process to move forward.

Defensor maintained that his vote was not driven by personal motives against Duterte, but by his belief that the rule of law and constitutional mechanisms must be upheld.IMT