Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has taken exception to Vice President Sara Duterte's allegation that House members signed her impeachment complaint in exchange for monetary compensation.

“That allegation is outrageous, malicious, and utterly beneath the dignity of the Office of the Vice President, Adiong, an assistant majority leader, said in a statement.

For her to claim—without a shred of evidence—that we were paid off to do our constitutional duty is an insult to every member of the House of Representatives,” said the recently reelected lawmaker from Mindanao.

Vice President Duterte's impeachment complaint--which contained seven articles of impeachment--was signed by 215 congressmen--over twice the number required for the complaint to be directly submitted to the Senate.

It's the Senate's constitutional duty to hold an impeachment trial forthwith, but this has yet to happen.

Nonetheless, Adiong underscores that the House puts a premium on accountability, and that there is no price tag for such.

“We signed the impeachment complaint because we believe in accountability—not because we were bought. This institution is not for sale,” he said.

He stressed that the impeachment was the result of a transparent process that followed the Constitution and the House rules, and not a political ambush.

Adiong urged Duterte to face the process with dignity and to refrain from spewing inflammatory rhetoric that seeks to distract and divide.

“Let the truth come out in the proper forum. We are not afraid of scrutiny—and neither should she be, if her conscience is clear,” he said.