The National Unity Party (NUP) wants the House of Representatives to submit to the Senate a "stronger" impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte--one preferably containing "new evidence" agaisnt her.

This was the key takeaway in the NUP's statement Monday, March 9, which was signed by party chairman, House Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno.

"Now that the House Committee on Justice has voted on the substance of the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, the [NUP] urges the Committee to present new evidence and a stronger case as the hearings proceed," read the statement.

"Impeachment is a serious constitutional process that must be anchored on clear, compelling, and credible evidence. In the absence of such evidence, it will be very difficult for members of the [NUP] to vote in favor of transmitting the impeachment complaints to the Senate for trial," it added, echoing an earlier statement last month.

Puno underscored: "The NUP does not want to send a weak case to the Senate only for it to be summarily dismissed."

He reckoned that doing so would "only weaken the credibility of the impeachment process and diminish the gravity of this constitutional mechanism".

At any rate, Puno debunked claims that the NUP--the second biggest political party in the House of Representatives in terms of membership--had softened its position on the Vice President’s impeachment.

"Contrary to some news reports, we have not walked back on our previous statements regarding this impeachment. Our position remains consistent. We reiterate that we cannot vote in favor of a rehashed case resting on previously presented information that, in our opinion, remain weak and inconclusive," he said.

"We will closely observe the hearings and carefully evaluate the evidence that will be presented. We hope the Committee will reveal stronger proof and, if warranted, the proverbial 'smoking gun' that would justify elevating the matter to the Senate," Puno further said.

The NUP--along with Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)--were viewed as the main drivers of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte last year under the previous 19th Congress.

The 2025 case, although viewed as strong, was ultimately declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC) due to a technicality.

It was Feb. 25, when the NUP first came out with a supposed party stand wherein it indicated that it won't support Duterte's impeachment unless "compelling new evidence" emerges in the hearings of the Committee on Justice.

This statement was issued a week after the still-popular Duterte announced her presidential bid in the 2028 elections. 

The justice panel has since declared two impeachment complaints against the Vice President as both sufficient in form and in substance.