MANILA – Several senators on Thursday weighed in on the impeachment complaint filed by an opposition lawmaker against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Senator Panfilo Lacson noted the impeachment complaint will have to get the nod of a third of the members of the lower chamber for it to be transmitted to the Senate, which will then act as the impeachment court.
“All I can say is, without necessarily associating myself with them in the matter of impeaching [Duterte], my simple message is good luck to them,” Lacson said in a statement.
Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed the impeachment complaint against Duterte at the House of Representatives and accused the president of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes in relation to the government's war on drugs.
Lacson said, the Magdalo Party-list group “should not be criticized much less mocked for filing the impeachment complaint. At least this time, they are not engaging in another Oakwood type of adventure,” referring to a past attempt by members of the group of mutineers to oust then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo via a coup d'etat.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, an ally of Alejano and a leading government critic, described the impeachment court as the “last venue left for him (Duterte) to face the allegations against him.”
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, meanwhile, said there is no “compelling reason” yet to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte.
Ejercito said, while Magdalo’s attempts in the past to oust Arroyo had basis because of “questions on her legitimacy,” Duterte’s mandate is clear.
“Wala sa tamang panahon ang impeachment complaint na ito. When will we ever move forward if we have ouster moves like these?” said Ejercito, whose father Joseph Estrada was the first Philippine president to be impeached by Congress. His trial, however, was cut short by a military-backed uprising which forced him to step down.
Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party, said the impeachment process is a legitimate one that must be respected.
“The process of impeachment is enshrined in our Constitution as a mechanism of public accountability,” he said.
“Whether we agree or disagree with the filing of the complaint, we must respect the process as part of our constitutional democracy.”
Senator Bam Aquino, another LP member, said “it is the right of every Filipino to utilize constitutionally-mandated processes to hold their leaders accountable.”
“That said, dispensation of an impeachment complaint is a process - one which the House of Representatives will have to undertake when they resume in May. These processes laid out in our laws need to be followed and we call for a transparent and just resolution of this matter.”
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, said “evidence” against the president will play a big role in Congress determining whether the impeachment complaint is sufficient in form and substance.
“Puno't dulo naman ay ebidensya eh. Dapat patunayan ito sa Kongreso, hindi fiscal case. What happens here is ‘yung Kongreso titingnan yung mga ebidensya, titingna ‘yung complaint tapos titingnan kung may basis yung complaint. Puno't dulo ebidensya talaga,” he said.
However, Senator Richard Gordon was more straightforward in his opinion, saying the impeachment complaint is only a “waste of time” since there would not be enough votes for it to prosper.
“Waste of time. Lahat ng cases stretched. Realistically speaking hindi ba. It's a political process. You have to have the votes,” Gordon said.
“I doubt it. Masyadong malaki ang majority ng lower house. They're the impeachment panel. Given the political realities and ‘yung allegations he committed, anong proof nila? Eh pagdating nyan magbibilangan ng boto.”
Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/17/good-luck-senators-weigh-in-on-impeachment-rap-vs-duterte