NUP Urges House for ‘New Evidence, Stronger Impeachment Case’ vs. Sara Duterte: “We reiterate that we cannot vote in favor of a rehashed case”

Amid the Impeachment Moves, NUP To Not Support Raps vs. VP Sara Duterte without New Evidence

NUP – The National Unity Party remains consistent in its stand over the impeachment moves against Vice President Sara Duterte in the House of Representatives.

Four impeachment complaints were filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte before the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives. The first impeachment complaint against Duterte was ‘set aside’ by the House for violating the one year rule ban.

Previously, Tindig Pilipinas decided to withdraw the second impeachment rap filed against the Vice President. Instead, they cast their support on the third impeachment complaint against Duterte which cited the following grounds:

• Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount over PHP 500 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023
• Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount of not less than PHP 112.5 million of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the year 2023
• Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by corrupting and bribing officials of the DepEd
• Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in contracting to murder or assassinate the president, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House
• Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN
• Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection

The House Justice Committee found the remaining two (2) impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as sufficient in substance. Here are the House members who voted in favor and against the sufficiency of the substance of the impeachment raps with a lone abstinence from voting:

Amid the impeachment process against the Vice President, the National Unity Party, more popularly known as NUP, previously claimed that they will not support the impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte unless they present a new evidence. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, they urge the House to present new evidence and a stronger impeachment case.

“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 National Unity Party to vote in favor of transmitting the impeachment complaints to the Senate for trial,” NUP stated in its statement.

Furthermore, based on the report, the NUP reiterated its stand that it cannot support a “rehashed case”. Previously, the party said they would permit their members to vote based on their conscience.

“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… We hope the Committee will reveal stronger proof and, if warranted, the proverbial ‘smoking gun’ that would justify elevating the matter to the Senate,” the NUP further stated.

Previously, the House claimed that the bank accounts of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte may be investigated amid the impeachment complaints hearing.