House Deputy Speaker and National Unity Party (NUP) chairperson Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo said Wednesday that roughly 60 percent of the NUP bloc, the second largest political party in Congress, is expected to vote in favor of transmitting the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.
Speaking to reporters, Puno said that while discussions within the 55-member party show some lawmakers still opposed to the impeachment, majority of its members are leaning toward a “yes” vote.
He added, however, that positions may still shift after members complete their district consultations ahead of the May 11 plenary vote.
“We have a hard core that is still negative to the proposal. There is a middle ground of some people who want to abstain. But the last conversation we had yesterday (Tuesday) at our meeting was that we would all go back to our constituents and have one more round of conversations with them to see how we would vote finally on this matter,” Puno said.
“But right now, the situation in NUP is, I think there’s a majority that are favoring the sending of these articles of impeachment to the Senate,” he added.
Asked to quantify the majority, Puno estimated that of the 55 members, “I would say maybe 60 percent, a little over half.”
He added that this translates to “at least 30 members” currently inclined to vote yes, but still subject to final consultations with constituents, considering NUP also has members representing districts in Mindanao — which is also known as the Dutertes’ political stronghold.
“Diyan siyempre in Mindanao, nahirapan ‘yung mga aming mga miyembro kasi (Of course, in Mindanao, our members have a hard time because) when they ask around, everybody says no. I mean that’s just the fact of the matter. They will call their barangays and everybody is saying no,” Puno said.
The deputy speaker also said some members are experiencing pressure from an influential religious group not to support the impeachment.
“There are many districts where there’s a very high percentage of voters from that church. So, they of course have an important voice also in their districts,” Puno said.
But despite internal divisions and external pressure, Puno expressed confidence that Duterte’s impeachment would secure the required one-third vote, or 106 members, noting that lawmakers from the largest political party, Lakas-CMD, have also demonstrated support for a Senate trial.
“Alam mo, tignan natin yung LAKAS (You know, let’s look at LAKAS). LAKAS is still the biggest party and LAKAS is the father party of this impeachment complaint. So, siguro halos lahat, ang tingin ko sa LAKAS (So maybe almost all, I think all LAKAS), will vote for impeachment. Kung ipagsama mo ‘yung boto ng LAKAS lang at ng 55 na bumoto sa committee (If you combine the votes of LAKAS alone and the 55 who voted in committee), you will already get your 106,” he said.
Puno estimates that at least 180 lawmakers in the 318-member House will vote to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
On Tuesday night, the plenary referred the committee on justice’s report on the impeachment resolution against Duterte to the committee on rules.
The resolution is expected to be calendared by the committee on rules and returned to the plenary, where members will be given copies and time to review the articles and supporting evidence ahead of the May 11 vote (PNA)