Duterte congressmen exit House before VP Sara impeachment vote

Before the scheduled plenary vote on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday afternoon, three lawmakers from her family left the House session hall.

Less than 10 minutes after the session began, Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, Davao 2nd District Rep. Omar Vincent Duterte, and Puwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat party-list Rep. Harold James Duterte exited the plenary hall ahead of the scheduled voting.

Asked if he was walking out of the session, Paolo Duterte replied, "Yes. Sa tingin mo, saan tayo pupunta?"

(Where do you think we're going?)

Asked if the move was a form of protest, the lawmaker said, "Eh, ano'ng gagawin ko doon?"

(What will I do there?)

Omar Duterte was also asked by GMA News if he was staging a walkout.

“I’m walking inside the car," Omar said.

The exchange ended after a staff member closed the van’s door.

The House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on whether to adopt the Justice Committee report and formally impeach Vice President Sara Duterte following the committee’s unanimous 55-0 vote on May 4, finding probable cause and approving the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President.

When asked if he expected the impeachment case to be “railroaded” to the Senate, Paolo Duterte declined to elaborate.

"No comment, nga," Paolo said.

What's your next step?

"Maglunch (Have lunch)."

Despite leaving the plenary session, Paolo Duterte later submitted a manifestation addressed to House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Garafil. He formally expressed his “no” vote on the adoption of Committee Report 261.

The report recommends the approval of House Resolution 989, titled “Resolution Setting Forth the Articles of Impeachment Against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.”

The lawmakers were also asked about claims made earlier by Sebastian Duterte, alleging that some congressmen were supposedly offered infrastructure projects worth P200 million in exchange for voting in favor of the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

“Lahat naman nakatanggap ng same information. Yours is as good as ours.”

Meanwhile, Paolo Duterte simply answered, "No comment." –NB, GMA News