Solons subscribe to VP’s ouster fears prior to polls
Lawmakers are not discounting possibility that there may be attempts to oust Vice President (VP)Jejomar C. Binay ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.
In a radio interview last week, Binay told former Vice President and news anchor Noli de Castro that his camp is “hearing about impeachment” and he “will be investigated, preparatory to impeachment.”
1-BAP Party-list Rep. Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III and Deputy Majority Leader and Citizens Battle against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna agreed that there may be basis in Binay’s claim that ouster charges are being prepared against him.
Bello said he would not be surprised if there are efforts to “disenfranchise” Binay, claiming that the Liberal Party is still scrambling to look for its “viable” bet.
“The LP has no viable candidate for 2016. If it cannot convince Senator Poe to run under its banner they will do everything to disenfranchise VP Binay,” he said.
For his part, Tugna said, “with 2016 elections just around the corner, it is a possibility that a case be filed. However, I believe that my colleagues will decide on the impeachment case based on the merits.”
AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe warned colleagues against pursuing supposed impeachment of Binay, saying that they would be accused of using the ouster complaint to advance their electoral bids.
“Any impeachment at this time is just for publicity and in aid of elections next year,” he said.
Both Batocabe and Magdalo Partylist Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo and cast doubts that the Lower Chamber has time to entertain such ouster bids.
“We do not have much time to entertain such complaint and would certainly affect the passage of crucial bills including the 2016 budget,” Batocabe said.
“We will be busy deliberating on the 2016 national budget. So Congress will have little time for any other legislative item, much less a full-blown impeachment trial,” Acedillo added.
Liberal Party stalwarts Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., party vice chairman and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, vice chairman for political affairs branded as mere speculation Binay’s claim.
They said Binay was just “speculating” and “hallucinating” when he alleged that an impeachment plot is brewing against him in the House of Representatives. (Charissa M. Luci)