By Reni M. Valenzuela
There is more to an issue, as always, than the “issue.”
A peculiar trait, prime in purpose, characterizes the provision in our constitution wherein impeachment is mentioned and embedded, and whose said trait and purpose are not present / inherent in any other human courts -- to serve nothing and no one but the country and our people, with dispatch.
Such a constitutionally mandated act vested in Congress is meant to make the highest officials of the land and certain other critically positioned government functionaries -- roundly and readily accountable for their questionable, irregular, anomalous, and scandalous actions, not to mention their tantrums and misbehaviors, their paranoia and hysteria.
Article XI Section 3 (1) is clear about whose task it is to spearhead and launch an impeachment case/proceeding against a high official, “The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.”
Now you know, dear “colorful” antagonists, why the Vice President is being subjugated or has to be subjected to an impeachment court trial by Congress. VP Sara Duterte has to face the music, que sera sera.
There is no way to address and solve the fracas and controversy but via the proper, correct, wise, constitutional way -- regardless of “technicality deficiency.” Do it right. Or correct your wrong.
Such is the way also to pacify the righteously indignant among the silent or our disgruntled countrymen even as I heard that some of them, particularly in the high echelons of our society (religious or otherwise), are already starting to mouth “revolution.”
Subalit puwera po ako diyan. I want no part in any act of rebellion, if rebellion is what you have in mind. Pwede pa siguro kung peaceful, nonviolent, massive street protest convergence a la Edsa People (God) Power of 1986.
It is argued that the impeachment protagonists among politicians only want Lady Duterte out from running in the 2028 presidential elections -- to advance the political ambition/agenda of a certain biggie in Congress. Pwede. Posible.
But look, the surveyed eight out of 10 Filipinos who wanted the impeachment trial to proceed are not politicians, much less have they any political stake in the ongoing brouhaha. The impeachment trial is first and foremost about the people, justice, accountability and good governance -- before anything else.
Would the citizens of Germany or Israel be willing to exculpate Adolf Hitler from killing six million Jews in a court case (High Court or impeachment court) -- due to “technicalities,” and/or because an ambitious political opponent of Hitler is one of those behind the filing of the genocide case against the mass murderer?
Ponder that.
Unless the very serious allegations against VP Sara are proven false, lies and untrue in an impartial, matino at makatarungan na impeachment court, she must indeed be disqualified from occupying any position in the government as what conscience and constitution demand.
Should Miss Sara be found guilty of the allegations/accusations against her, then what’s the point (indeed) that she should/would be allowed (still) and accorded the chance to run for public office in the future and serve the country, much less as a president of all Filipinos. Again, ponder that.
To my dear countrymen, exorcism appears to be what we need to do now in order to set all the “possessed” free and deliver our country from the clutches of the evil one, the devil of politics, corruption and inanities. It’s about time.
Time to wake up and get up. Exercise the impeachment.
“And Jesus went out into their synagogues and chambers throughout all Galillee, preaching and casting out demons.” -- Mark 1:39