Vice President Sara Duterte (left), La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (PPAB)

Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V says he would prioritize forgiving himself if he were in the shoes of controversial Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing at least two impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives.

Ortega gave this reaction Thursday, Dec. 5 to Duterte's statement that--had it been up to her--she wouldn't be giving anybody forgiveness this holiday season.

Speaking in a press conference, Ortega says that the concept of forgiveness is more of a case of "to each his own", and that Duterte simply thinks that way about it.

"Siya po siguro yun pero kung ako nasa lugar niya siguro, uhm broad po kasi ang pagpapatawad," he said.

(Maybe that's her, but I if were in her place, uhm the concept of forgiveness is broad.)

"So ang pinakauna ko pong gagawin, papatawarin ko muna yung sarili ko bago ako magpatawad ng ibang tao," shared the Ilokano.

(So the first thing I would do is to forgive myself before I forgive other people.)

Ortega went on to explain this: "Kasi pag napatawad mo na sarili mo sa mga pagkakasala mo o kung ano man nagawa mong masama, yan lang ang panahon na makakapatawad ka ng ibang tao."

(It's only after you've forgiven yourself of your sins and bad deeds that the time of forgiving other people will come.)

"So unahin muna ang sarili para at least makapatawad tayo ng ibang tao. Merry Christmas (So let's first forgive ourselves so that at least we can forgive other people. Merry Christmas)," the "Young Guns" bloc member said.

An impeachment complaint was lodged against Vice President Duterte before the House last Monday, Dec. 2, and again on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Both complaints were received by House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco.