Demolition job: Robredo out, Marcos in?

Kasado na ang pagsira sa imahe ni Vice President Leni Robredo para maging madali ang pagsusulong kay dating senador Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. bilang kapalit ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pagbaba niya sa puwesto sa 2022.

Ito ang babala ng nakadetineng si Sen. Leila de Lima sa inilabas niyang pahayag sa diumano’y demolition job laban kay Robredo.

Ayon kay De Lima, malinaw na nililinis na ni Duterte ang daan para sa pekeng panalo si Marcos sa Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) sa tuluy-tuloy na verbal attacks laban kay Robredo.

“Duterte has several ideas how he will be replaced in case he decides to step down before his term ends. He has expressed his preference for Bongbong Marcos, (Senator) Chiz Escudero, a military junta [but] none of them include the constitutional mode of succession, which is the only legal way of replacing him,” aniya sa kanyang huling pahayag mula sa Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters kung saan siya nakadetine kaugnay sa drug charges.

Ayon kay De Lima, dahil tila “dead” na ang usapin sa federal charter, at ayaw naman suportahan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang military junta, kaya ang tanging pagasa na lamang ng administrasyon ay mailuklok si Marcos.

“After the Supreme Court has demonstrated its capability to perform the unconstitutional ouster of its own Chief Justice, it can no longer be relied upon to stand as the guardian of the Constitution and the rule of law,” aniya.

Hinikayat niya ang mamamayan na maging mapagmatyag at magkaisa laban sa masasamang balak.

“Now, more than ever, citizens must rely on their own organic power to thwart any attempt to undermine constitutional democracy and to foist Duterte’s illegitimate choice of successor upon the Filipino people,” giit ni De Lima.