A time to impeach

It’s crunch time for 19th Congress Reps who are reaping the consequence of the widely-watched QuadComm hearings on alleged culpabilities and betrayals of public trust by the Dutertes.  After agitating civil society so for the last three months, there is simply no justifying the claim that it’s too late to impeach the VP just because of the 2025 midterm elections coming.

Mas importante kasi ang kampanya? Then they should have put off the Quad project till after elections–bakit nagmadali? And now that the die is about to be cast, tila panic mode sila, lalo na yung mga umaasa pa rin sa boto ng mga ka-DDS, especially yung mga taga-Visayas at -Mindanao.

This is true, too, for the senators. Impeachment by the Lower House means the Upper House has no choice but to proceed with the trial, which means re-electionists will not be able to campaign as usual. Still, a trial means the Reps-Prosecutors and the Senators-Judges will be on TV every hearing day, which means free publicity. Ayun nga lang, if the defense wraps up and the court votes to acquit or convict before May 2025, magkakaalaman na kung DDS o BBM ang bawat senador, AT magkakaalaman na kung sinong papanigan ng mga botante come election day. Ito ang iniiwasan sana ng ating mga mambabatas, at ng palasyo na rin, it would seem, given how BBM has flipflopped.

Ang gusto nila, status quo, no change. Ang gusto natin, impeachment trial, at matinong pagbabago. Let the VP defend herself, ilabas lahat ng itinatago, let the chips fall where they may.

Yung kay Senator Migs, na divisive daw ang impeachment, at baka magkagulo–divided na nga po, sir. Mabuti nga’t yung mga nagra-rally for and against impeachment are all talking “mapayapang paraan”. Malay natin, baka ito pa ang makapag-unite sa taongbayan. And what about Senator Jinggoy–hindi naman daw gumanda ang buhay nung na-impeach ang tatay niya o nung natanggal ang matandang Marcos. Naku, sir, fake news ‘yan, no ifs or buts.

To think that neither Migs nor Jinggoy is a re-electionist in 2025. Maybe that’s why they dare speak up for the status quo? Nothing to lose?

A final note on the two impeachment complaints. Only the first includes betrayal of public trust for failing to condemn Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Which is not unexpected naman, considering that the second was filed by the Left, which has always been anti-U.S., but is it pro-China?  Eh ang Congress kaya?

I guess we’ll know soon enough, when we see the consolidated complaint. Hope springs.