The signatures of 215 lawmakers from the lower chamber secured Vice President Sara Duterte’s fate to become the first vice president to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
It came as a surprise that more than half — 41 out of 60 — representatives from Mindanao backed the impeachment of the country’s second highest official from their island group.
What was expected was for Duterte to still have the solid backing of Davao lawmakers. Of the 11 representatives of the Davao region, 10 ignored the complaint. Even PBA Representative Margarita Nograles Almario, who belongs to the family of Dutertes’ rivals, did not sign the complaint.
Davao del Sur Lone District Representative John Tracy Cagas was the only Davao lawmaker who backed the complaint against the Vice President.
Backlash?
In an interview with local radio anchor Gina Sarmiento Prestoza, Cagas explained his vote.
“Yes, I signed the impeachment because it is sufficient in form and substance. The articles of impeachment is based on the records as borne out of the hearings in Congress. As Congressman, it is my sworn duty to sign it and for the respondent to answer it in the impeachment trial to defend the allegations against her,” Cagas was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.
Mindanao-based Mindanao Times also cited Cagas in its report.
After the voting, social media users left negative comments on some of the lawmaker’s posts in his Facebook account. The lawmaker’s relative, Davao del Sur Vice Governor Aiai Cagas, posted a short statement showing support for her relative.
Who is he?
What else is there to know about the Davao del Sur congressman? Here are things to know about him:
- He belongs to a well-entrenched political family in the province. He is the cousin of former Davao del Sur governor Marc Douglas Cagas IV, whose wife, Yvonne Roña, is serving as Davao del Sur’s governor. Marc is the son of the late governor Douglas “Dodo” Cagas, who died at the age of 77 from COVID-19 complications in June 2021. Dodo had been identified with the opposition during the Marcos years and was a member of PDP-Laban from 1984 to 1986.
- From being a senior provincial board member, John Cagas became vice governor in 2021 after the death of his uncle Douglas. His cousin Marc Douglas, who was vice governor at the time, assumed the gubernatorial post, paving the way for John to rise to the vice gubernatorial post. John Cagas served as Davao del Sur’s vice governor from 2021 to 2022 before seeking a congressional seat.
- John ran in 2022 under the Nacionalista Party, garnering 67.7% of the votes, defeating Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s Erwin Llanos, son of the late governor Rogelio Llanos. HNP was the regional party formed by the Vice President.
- In the lower chamber, the Davao lawmaker is a member of various panels: committees on national defense and security, public order and safety, East ASEAN Growth Area, higher and technical education, legislative franchises, tourism, and ways and means.
- In the 19th Congress, he was able to file 305 principally authored bills, while co-authoring another 228.
- Prior to winning his House seat, He also served as member of his province’s provincial board.
- Cagas is part of the military’s reserve force. As of 2021, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and had served as the former commanding officer of 1101st Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion in his home province.
- He is a lawyer by profession, having been admitted to the Bar on June 5, 1992, with Roll No. 38063.
– Rappler.com