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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NUP shuns 'Duterte coddlers' tag; Puno says party stalwarts behind past probe on VP

NUP shuns 'Duterte coddlers' tag; Puno says party stalwarts behind past probe on VP

Published Mar 16, 2026 06:35 pm

At A Glance

  • The National Unity Party's (NUP) repeated expression of its doubts on the strength of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte does not make the party "Duterte coddlers".
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)


The National Unity Party's (NUP) repeated expression of its doubts on the strength of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte does not make the party "Duterte coddlers".
"I'm just saying that, you know, we cannot be accused of coddling the Dutertes. Kasi, kami yung pasimuno nga, nung mga nakaraan e, di ba? Partido namin e, di ba? (It's because we were the ones who initiated this in the past, right? It was our party, right?)" NUP Chairman and House Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno said in a press conference Monday, March 16.
Puno was reminding House reporters that the broad efforts to investigate Vice President Duterte's alleged wrongdoings resulted from the actions of NUP stalwarts dating back to the previous 19th Congress.
The findings of these investigations were later cited in the impeachment complaints filed against the lady official during both the 19th Congress and the current 20th Congress.
In a statement released on Monday, the NUP reiterated its previous assertion that the work of the Committee on Justice must ultimately result in an impeachment case that is both legally sound and evidentially compelling.
"The [NUP] therefore encourages the Committee’s inquiry to focus on evidence that is documentary, verifiable, and capable of clearly establishing the elements of the alleged impeachable offenses. Where such evidence is absent, the [NUP] will not support impeachment," the statement read.
'Tibayan naman natin'
Such pronouncements have led to claims that the NUP has softened its stance on Vice President Duterte's impeachment, something that Puno has denied. Specifically, he said NUP and Vice President Duterte--and administration critic--weren't on the same side.
"Mali bang magsabi na 'Gawin niyong matibay yung kaso para hindi lang itapon sa Senado na, dati, tinapon na yan (Is it wrong to say, 'Make the case strong so it won’t just be thrown to the Senate, like before, when it was dismissed). And then the Supreme Court (SC) is also saying that, you know, there are some things that need to be reviewed," an exasperated Puno said.
"So para sa amin, sayang yung oras, kung mahina na naman yung ilagay natin don. Tibayan naman natin (So for us, it’s a waste of time if we put forward something weak again. Let’s make it solid)," he underscored.
The 2025 impeachment case against the Vice President--filed during the tail end of the 19th Congress--was declared unconstitutional by the SC due to a technicality.
'Mga NUP yan'
During the presser, Puno recalled that it was a privilege speech from Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano in 2024 that triggered the congressional probe on Vice President Duterte. Valeriano is an NUP stalwart.
In the investigation of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that year on the confidential funds issue, Puno noted that Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. and the late Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop were among those active during the proceedings.
"Mga NUP yan, eh (Those are NUP members)," he said, referring to Abante and Acop.
Abante is an endorser of one of the two remaining impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte this year under the 20th Congress.
With 41 stalwarts, the NUP is the second-biggest political party in the House of Representatives in terms of membership. 
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