MANILA — Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre strongly denied allegations that members of the House of Representatives were bribed to support the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, calling the claims “categorically false.”
Acidre’s statement came in response to remarks by Rep. Toby Tiangco, who alleged that lawmakers received funding allocations in exchange for backing the impeachment move.
“There was no bribe. There was no deal. There was no exchange,” Acidre said, emphasizing that his support for the complaint was based solely on evidence presented during congressional hearings. He personally attended committee hearings, reviewed documents, and listened to testimonies before making his decision, acknowledging that it was a difficult choice given that he had previously supported Duterte during the 2022 elections.
Acidre also criticized Tiangco’s claims as “reckless and baseless,” warning that such allegations undermine public trust in Congress. He clarified that no pressure, inducement, or directive came from House leadership, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez, to secure support for the impeachment complaint.
“To suggest otherwise is a serious allegation that demands proof, not propaganda,” Acidre said, challenging Tiangco and others to file proper legal cases and present evidence instead of making public claims without substantiation.
He stressed that the proper course, if any wrongdoing occurred, would be to present credible evidence in a legal venue.
