Oducado: Resignation due to health issues, not over impeach vote

MANILA, Philippines — Former 1Tahanan party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado has clarified that health issues, and not his stand on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, prompted his sudden resignation from the House of Representatives.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Oducado relayed that his family has had a history of lung illness, and that he suffers from asthma. The former lawmaker also shared that he had felt lethargic in recent months, sparking concerns about his overall health.

“I have to take care of my health, and take care of my family,” Oducado told reporters inside the Batasang Pambansa complex. “My family has a lung history so I have asthma. And at the same time, I get tired easily these past few months.”

“It’s really a personal reason given my situation where I need to rest,” he added, noting that his decision was also hinged on the fact that his “kids are growing up.”

Oducado, a neophyte lawmaker, said his party is still discussing who will fill the spot he vacated.

“The party-list is still deliberating internally on who will replace me,” he said “But rest assured, it will undergo a process and my replacement will be capable.”

The House floor received Oducado’s resignation alongside Pinoy Workers Rep. Franz Vincent Legazpi on Monday, as the lower chamber moved to strike them off from the roll of House members.

READ: 2 party-list lawmakers quit House

However, after Oducado’s resignation, there were rumors that the lawmaker stepped down after he voted in favor of House Resolution (HR) No. 989, which contains the articles of impeachment against Duterte.

Duterte was eventually impeached after a total of 257 lawmakers voted in favor of adopting HR No. 989, with only 25 voting against it and nine abstaining.

Oducado and Legazpi are not the first set of lawmakers who resigned. Previously, ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap left his post in February after being tagged by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla as one of the politicians who allegedly received money from contractor-couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya.

Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co also resigned in September 2025.

Oducado said he was unfazed by the fallout from his vote to impeach Duterte, though he acknowledged his party’s supporters were “frustrated” after learning he was among the 257 lawmakers who backed elevating the charges to the Senate for a trial.

“As leaders, we have to stand by difficult decisions,” he said. “There was an internal discussion on what the vote will be, and the party-list decided to vote yes for the impeachment.”

Oducado filed 114 bills during his 11-month stint in Congress, including proposals to strengthen election campaign finance rules and amend the law that liberalized the country’s energy sector, according to his congressional profile.

He sat with the majority on several key panels, including appropriations, ways and means and national defense.

“I’ve received several calls from fellow congressmen earlier that they are willing to continue the bills that I submitted,” said Oducado. /das