TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has denied claims by Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco that House members were bribed with funding allocations to support the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Acidre in a statement said that he has generally avoided personal attacks in public debate but chose to speak out to prevent silence from being misinterpreted as a concession. “There was no bribe. There was no deal. There was no exchange,” Acidre said.

He added that his decision was based on evidence presented during hearings, testimonies from witnesses, and reviewed documents.

The lawmaker, who recalled campaigning for Duterte in 2022, stressed that leadership is not about loyalty to personalities but about fidelity to the truth.

Acidre called Tiangco’s allegation “reckless and baseless,” noting it insults the House’s integrity and the intelligence of the Filipino people.

Tiangco claimed that some lawyers are pushing for Duterte’s impeachment because she will not be open to negotiations regarding flood-control issues.

Cidre further clarified that no instruction, inducement, or pressure came from House leadership, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez, to secure signatures through funding or favors.

“The proper course is obvious: File the appropriate cases, present the evidence, and prove it in the proper forum,” Acidre said.

He questioned the timing of the accusations, suggesting they are an attempt to distract from serious issues and avoid accountability.

Acidre said that hearings are conducted in accordance with rules, with transparent processes, and due process observed.

Tiangco has filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Justice to expedite the resolution of the impeachment case against the Vice President, even during recess, to enable the House to focus on the Middle East crisis and other matters of equal importance.