MANILA - Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Thursday said he is ready to face the consequences of his filing an impeachment case against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Speaking on ANC's Top Story, the former Marine captain said he is ready to face attacks and criticisms following his actions.
"I am aware of the consequences of my actions, and we [in Magdalo] have a track record of that," he said.
Alejano, along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, were accused of leading several attempts to oust former president Gloria Arroyo when they were still in the military.
"We believe this is our duty, this is our responsibility to the Filipino people. We are consistent with our principles, we are consistent in standing up against corrupt people in government. Now, if they are going to attack me, I am ready," Alejano added.
According to Alejano, his filing of an impeachment case against Duterte is the "fight of the Filipino people."
"This fight is not my fight alone. This is the fight of the Filipino people, and all concerned stakeholders should be able to assess and check on the impeachment complaint," he said.
He added that there have been some members of the House who will support the impeachment complaint, but refused to name any to give them time to personally voice out their support.
"There are some members of the House who signified their intention to join," Alejano said.
'ALVAREZ EMULATING DUTERTE'
For Alejano, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez' comment on his filing of an impeachment complaint shows lack of respect for members of the House of Representatives.
"It is very unfortunate to hear a statement like that from a Speaker. I would have expected from a Speaker to afford a due respect to the members of the House, not only to the members of the House, but even to ordinary citizens of this country," he said.
"Being a Speaker, he should exemplify, he should display leadership qualities that should worthy of emulation. It is very unfortunate he made that remark. I will not go down to that kind of leadership, to that kind of values right now. He is emulating the president. It is very unfortunate," Alejano added.
Alvarez called Alejano's complaint "plain and simple stupidity."
"We are all entitled to our own stupidity... That is stupidity, we know that all the charges are fabricated. They seem to believe their own lies," Alvarez said in a phone interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
Alejano also shrugged allegations that his impeachment complaint is a part of a larger plan to destabilize the government.
"If you criticize the government on its policies, is it destabilization? In fact, I clearly state that this is part of the legal processes of this country, this has basis in our Constitution, and rest assured there is no extralegal [move] in this activity. So, I don't think this is destabilization. They are actually the ones destabilizing himself because if you don't have any grievances in this government, there will be no complaint at all," he said.
Alejano lodged the impeachment complaint against Duterte in connection to the killings in his war on drugs and allegations he kept secret bank accounts.
The President, Alejano alleged, should be indicted for culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes.
Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/17/ex-marine-behind-duterte-impeachment-rap-ready-for-attacks