By DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
Two Bohol legislators have taken steps to seek constituent input ahead of a crucial House vote on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte scheduled Monday, while a third lawmaker has remained silent on how she plans to cast her ballot.
First District Rep. John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II and Second District Rep. Maria Vanessa Aumentado both conducted public consultations with constituents and local officials in the days leading up to the expected plenary vote, which would determine whether the impeachment complaint against Duterte is transmitted to the Senate for trial.
Third District Rep. Alexie Tutor has yet to make any public statement disclosing her position on the matter.
Yap said the Committee on Justice report on the impeachment complaint has already been placed in the House Order of Business and could be deliberated upon and voted on by lawmakers in the coming days.
The first district lawmaker stressed during consultations that a House vote in favor of impeachment does not equate to conviction, but only serves as a procedural step to elevate the complaint to the Senate, which would then convene as an impeachment court.
Yap said feedback from constituents reflected a range of views.
Some residents initially believed that a House vote would result in Duterte’s automatic removal from office, but later came to understand that the Senate retains exclusive authority to conduct the actual trial and render a final judgment.
Others opposed the proceedings entirely, arguing that the government should devote its attention to more urgent national concerns.
Some Duterte supporters, meanwhile, said they favored transmitting the case to the Senate precisely to ensure the vice president is afforded due process and a public forum in which to defend herself.
Neutral respondents also weighed in, saying they wanted the case to reach the Senate so that all evidence and arguments could be heard before the public forms conclusions ahead of the 2028 elections.
“Above everything else, the welfare of our district and service to the people remain my guiding principles,” Yap said, indicating his final vote would be based on what best serves his constituents.
Aumentado Opens Social Media Consultation
Aumentado, who represents the Second District, said she has already met with town mayors, barangay captains, and other stakeholders, but acknowledged that time constraints prevented her from reaching all constituents before the scheduled vote.
She invited residents to share their positions — and their reasons, if they choose — through social media, framing the exercise as an effort to broaden public participation in a decision of national significance.
The lawmaker addressed potential criticism over the timing of the consultation, saying earlier processes had not allowed sufficient time for broader public feedback.
Aumentado urged the public to maintain civil and respectful discourse, calling for a refrain from personal attacks and heated arguments.
She assured constituents that she would take the majority sentiment into account before casting her vote.
“The consultation process is not intended to create division,” Aumentado said, “but to broaden public participation in a significant national decision.”
Expert Cites Due Process
A political science expert from the University of Bohol urged the public to understand the impeachment process before passing judgment.
Alfredo Paraginip, a political science instructor at the university, said impeachable officials include the president, vice president, Supreme Court justices, and officials of constitutional agencies such as the Commission on Elections.
Paraginip said grounds for impeachment include culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
He cautioned that impeachment is a process with defined steps that must be followed before any determination of culpability is made, and that the Senate — not the House — is responsible for conducting the trial and weighing the evidence.
“People tend to cast judgment without researching and finding out the truth and react based on emotions,” Paraginip said.
Tutor Silent
As of this writing, Tutor had not issued any statement or indication of how she intends to vote on the impeachment question.
Tutor voted yes for the first impeachment attempt against VP Sara Duterte last year.
The House vote is expected on Monday, May 11, 2026.