Nine of 11 members of the House of Representatives from Cebu are among the 215 legislators who signed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cebu City South District Representative Eduardo Rama, Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Cindy Chan, Mandaue City Lone District Rep. Lolypop Ouano-Dizon, Cebu Province First District Rep. Rhea Gullas, Second District Rep. Edsel Galeos, Fourth District Rep. Janice Salimbangon, Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco, Sixth District Rep. Daphne Lagon, and Seventh District Rep. Peter John Calderon signed the complaint for impeachment. 

Their support to the impeachment trial earned the ire of netizens who are supporters apparently of Vice President Duterte.

Following this, some of the Cebu solons were observed to have disabled the comment section of their social media accounts.

Of the 11 lawmakers from Cebu, only Cebu City North District Rep. Cutie del Mar and Cebu Province Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia did not sign the article of impeachment.

For the subject of the article of impeachment to be removed from the office, two-thirds (2/3) of the members of Senate have to vote for a conviction. 

However, the impeachment trial could not commence immediately while the Senate is yet on break.

In a press conference morning on Thursday, February 6, 2025, Senate President Francis Escudero said that the article of impeachment will be tackled once the Senate resumes its regular session on June 2, 2025.

An impeachment court will be convened wherein senators will take their oath as impeachment judges.

“Para magconvene ang impeachment court, dapat may session ang Senado. Para manumpa ang impeachment judges, kailangan may session ang Senado. Bagaman ang trial pwedeng magproceed kahit na recess, tulad ng nangyari kay dating at yumaong Chief Justice [Renato] Corona, dapat ito ay masimulan, ma-convene, at mapanumpa ang mga judges kapag may session,” Escudero said.

The Makabayan bloc on February 6, 2025 called on the senators to start the impeachment trial as soon as possible, but Escudero vowed not to give in to the pressure.

Makabayan bloc described the “delay” to be a disservice to the public.

(with Albert Aballe/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)