BACOLOD, Philippines – Even before the ink dried on the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson already had a word of advice for his fellow local officials: stay out of it.
“If we take sides, that will be a problem. Let’s just focus on working for the betterment of our respective communities,” Lacson said on Thursday, November 28, preempting the political maelstrom that now grips the country.
True to his stance, Lacson has remained silent two days after a coalition of civil society groups lodged the complaint in the House of Representatives on Monday, December 2.
Negros Occidental’s political scene is dominated by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). However, many officials maintain quiet connections with the Dutertes, indicating a precarious balancing act between loyalty and pragmatism.
Historically, Negros Occidental had been staunchly aligned with the opposition, backing former vice president Leni Robredo in her 2016 and 2022 campaigns. But the 2022 elections flipped the script, as the Marcos-Duterte tandem swept to victory, redrawing political allegiances across the province.
The impeachment complaint has stirred strong reactions among many Negros Occidental groups, dividing them into pro- and anti-Duterte camps. But among local officials, there is a deafening silence.
“Nobody will dare comment,” said Bacolod lawyer Cesar Beloria. “For them, it’s a matter of political survival, with the 2025 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race looming large.”
Beloria said the hesitation stems from the thought that Duterte would likely succeed Marcos Jr. in 2028.
“Nobody wants to alienate someone who could very well be the next president,” he said.
‘It’s about accountability’
For now, Negros Occidental’s leaders are treading carefully, choosing to let Congress wrestle with the matter while they focus on staying afloat in an increasingly unpredictable political landscape.
Although the polarization has become evident in the province, some ordinary citizens expressed apathy and confusion about the move to boot out Duterte via the impeachment path.
“Whoever is in power, we remain poor,” said Eddie, a market vendor in Silay, a Negros Occidental component city.
Junjun Terise, a 29-year-old mall security guard, admitted to Rappler that he didn’t understand what the impeachment was all about, but he said he was certain that Duterte would run for president in 2028.
“Impeachment is a political process by nature,” said former Negros Occidental governor and Rafael Coscolluela.
Coscolluela said there was really a need for Duterte to account for the public funds that were allegedly misused by her office, given her reluctance to answer questions squarely during congressional investigations.
“Such abuse cannot be allowed to go unpunished, or else the government will lose whatever credibility it may still have,” said Coscolluela, a convenor of the 1Sambayan group in Negros Occidental.
Nevertheless, he urged senators to act independently and responsibly should the complaint reach the Senate.
Coscolluela also said the burden of resolving the political crisis rests heavily on Marcos Jr.
“The quality of political leadership will determine where the country goes from here,” Coscolluela added. “We serve notice to them: they are on trial as well.”
Contrasting views
Joshua Villalobos, convenor of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and Environment (NICE), echoed calls for accountability, citing Duterte’s controversial remarks, including a death threat against Marcos Jr., his wife First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, and the corruption allegations hounding the vice president’s office.
“It is the responsibility of our lawmakers to start and finish the process of removing a government official who disrespects our laws on financial accountability,” said environmentalist Romana de los Reyes.
Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), described the filing of the impeachment complaint as a critical juncture.
“The die is cast. So, let the games begin,” he said, while cautioning that the process could overshadow pressing issues affecting marginalized sectors, including poverty reduction and labor rights.
Transport group Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators, Drivers, Incorporated (BACOD) opposed the impeachment, with its president, Rudy Catedral, calling Duterte a “fighter for the cause of the poor,” and their likely ally against the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program. Ironically, the controversial policy was initiated during the presidency of Duterte’s father Rodrigo.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber and Industry (MBCCI), said he doubted if a looming impeachment trial would impact the country’s economy.
“There’s no cause for panic unless it’s the President being impeached,” Carbon said. – Rappler.com