Four lawmakers from Iloilo supported the two impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives.
Lorenz Defensor (Third District), Janette Garin (First District), Ferjenel Biron (Fourth District), and Jamjam Baronda (Iloilo City) voted in favor of the motions declaring that probable cause exists to impeach Duterte.
The four are duputy speakers and are considered ex-officio members of the Justice Committee and all other House committees.
A total of 53 lawmakers voted in the affirmative during the April 29 hearing.
The committee report will be submitted to the plenary before possible transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
According to Garin, the evidence presented against Duterte was “strong.”
“Mabigat ang ebidensya na iniharap laban sa pangalawang pangulo at hindi nya ito nasagot dahil pinili nyang maging absent sa lahat ng hearings kaya hindi na kataka-taka na nagkaisa ang boto para sa probable cause,” she said in statement.
Garin also denied that there were payoffs and coercion in the decision of the panel.
“This narrative is meant to distract from the evidence. But the record is clear – the vote was based on facts, documents, and sworn testimony,” she said.
“There was no pressure, no directive, and no money involved. What we saw was an independent body doing its constitutional duty,” Garin added.IMT
