The National Unity Party (NUP) has announced it will not adopt a unified party stance regarding the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, opting instead to give its members full autonomy to vote according to their personal judgment and the welfare of their constituents.
As the second-largest political coalition in the House of Representatives, the NUP’s decision comes on the heels of the House Committee on Justice’s recent approval of a report that recommends Duterte’s impeachment and paves the way for transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
Antipolo City 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno, who serves as the NUP chairperson, emphasized that the party views the proceedings as a matter of law rather than politics.
“We believe impeachment is a constitutional process, not a partisan exercise.”
Puno further stressed that the freedom of individual lawmakers is vital to maintaining the credibility of the legislature.
“The strength of our institutions lies in allowing each Member to decide freely, without undue pressure or expectation of uniformity,” Puno said.
The party chairperson also issued a stern warning against any political retaliation or disciplinary actions directed at lawmakers who exercise their independent judgment during the vote.
“In matters of this nature, independence must be preserved,” Puno added. “If any form of sanction or punitive measure is imposed on Members for voting according to their judgment, the Party will act collectively and respond in a manner it deems appropriate.”
While reinforcing the coalition’s dedication to national stability and its ongoing alliance with the current administration, Puno maintained that political partnerships should not compromise legislative duties.
“Our support for the administration remains steady,” he said. “At the same time, we must ensure that constitutional duties are carried out with integrity, independence, and full respect for the role of each Member of Congress.”