CEBU CITY – All but two of the 11 lawmakers from Cebu province voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
VICE President Sara Duterte was in Lagawe, Ifugao on Feb. 5, the day she was impeached, to distribute bags to schoolchildren. (Inday Sara Duterte FB)
Reps. Eduardo Rama (Cebu City, second district), Maria Cynthia Chan (Lapu-Lapu City lone district), Emmarie Ouano Dizon (Mandaue City lone district), Rhea Gullas (Cebu province, first district), Edsel Galeos (second district), Janice Salimbangon (fourth district), Duke Frasco (fifth district), Daphne Lagon (sixth district), and Peter John Calderon (seventh district) were among the 215 congressmen who backed the impeachment of Duterte.
Those who did not sign the impeachment complaint were Cebu City first district Rep. Cutie del Mar and Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia.
Most of the lawmakers who backed the impeachment were known to be allies of the Vice President. Frasco's wife, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, used to be the spokesperson of Duterte.
Christina and Duterte were known to have strong ties that they even call each other "sis" or sister.
Gullas posted a photo of her and husband Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas having dinner with Duterte on social media. In the post, Gullas referred Duterte as her "idol."
The husband of Chan, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, has also praised Duterte on Facebook.
Netizens quickly called out Cebuano lawmakers after their signatures appeared in the impeachment complaint when they were known to be allies of the Vice President.
The comments feature of the Facebook pages of Dizon, Gullas, Rama, and Chan were turned off amid the heavy criticism.
Those who signed the impeachment complaint have yet to issue statements.
Garcia opted not to comment on the issue. "Out of respect for colleagues who have different views, I will not be making a comment," Garcia said
Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama expressed frustration over the impeachment of Duterte.
“I am aghast because impeachment is not really good for the country,” he said. “I am seriously alarmed by this situation because there are more pressing problems in this country, far more problems than these proceedings,” added Rama, an ally of Duterte's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.