Ranking congressmen refused to give any mental advantage to Vice President Sara Duterte in their rather thorny tit-for-tat leading to the May 11 plenary vote on the lady official's articles of impeachment.

Supplying their respective retorts to Vice President Duterte were La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V, Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun, and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.

On Friday, May 8, Duterte took a swipe at the House members who have been pushing for her second impeachment in as many years.

"Madami ang pumipera gamit ang pangalan ko. Sana maambunan ang mga constituents nila ng mga pera sa kanilang bulsa o maleta (Many are making money using my name. I hope their constituents at least benefit from the cash in their pockets or suitcases)," the Vice President was quoted as saying.

This, after several congressmen gave forecasts that up to two thirds of the 300-plus strong chamber would support the adoption of the articles of impeachment this coming Monday.

"Gasgas at lumang tugtugin na ’yan. Kapag hinihingan ng sagot sa ebidensiya, ang balik agad ay paratang na may kumikita, may pera sa bulsa, may maleta. Sagutin na lang niya ang articles of impeachment dahil doon nakasulat ang mga tanong na kailangan niyang harapin," Ortega said of Duterte's remarks.

(That’s an old, worn-out tune. When asked to provide evidence, the immediate response is always an accusation that someone is profiting, with money in their pocket or suitcase. She should just answer the articles of impeachment because that is where the questions she needs to face are written.)

“Kung may mahigit 200 mambabatas na handang pumirma at kung malaking mayorya ng publiko ang gustong magkaroon ng paglilitis, hindi na niya puwedeng sabihing intriga lang ito. This is no longer about her press statements. This is about evidence, accountability and the proper constitutional process,” the deputy speaker pointed out.

(If more than 200 lawmakers are ready to sign and a large majority of the public wants a trial, he can no longer dismiss it as mere intrigue.)

For his part, Ridon ominously "wished the best" for Duterte ahead of the high stakes House plenary vote on Monday.

"The Vice President is free to speak her mind as we head into the impeachment vote weekend. But the vote on Monday will happen, and she will be impeached for the second time under two different Congresses. We wish her the best," said the Committee on Public Accounts chairman.

On Feb. 5, 2025, during the tail end of the previous 19th Congress, the House of Representatives directly submitted to the Senate an impeachment complaint against Duterte that was signed by 215 solons.

Ortega has also called Duterte’s insinuation that lawmakers were motivated by money an unfair insult to legislators who studied the articles of impeachment and responded to the public demand for accountability.

“Mas madaling mang-insulto kaysa magpaliwanag. Pero kung bilyon ang pinag-uusapan, kung public funds ang sangkot at kung mismong taumbayan ang humihiling ng trial (It’s easier to insult than to explain. But if billions are at stake, if public funds are involved, and if the people themselves are demanding a trial), the decent thing to do is face the charges, not smear the people asking the questions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Khonghun, another deputy speaker, brushed aside the Vice President's challenge to former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to “tell the truth” and prove that they were truly interested in attaining justice in the flood control projects controversy.

"Kung impeachment ang pinag-uusapan, ang mas makabubuti ay sagutin niya ang mga alegasyon at ebidensiyang sa tamang forum, sa lugar na inilatag ng constitutional processes,” Khonghun said.

(If impeachment is the issue, it is better for him to answer the allegations and evidence in the proper forum, in the venue laid out by constitutional processes.)

“Hindi makakatulong sa taumbayan kung maililihis ang usapan sa ibang isyu habang may seryosong tanong tungkol sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan, sa kanyang SALN, AMLC records at iba pang matters raised in the articles of impeachment,” he added.

Khonghun said any investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects should be handled by the proper agencies and institutions, while the impeachment case should be allowed to proceed under the constitutional process.

“Pero hindi rin dapat matabunan ang impeachment case dahil iba ang proseso niyan, iba ang ebidensiya at iba ang pananagutang kailangang harapin,” he added.

(But the impeachment case should not be overshadowed because it follows a different process, requires different evidence, and demands a distinct accountability that must be faced.)