MAGDALO party-list Representative Gary Alejano, the lawmaker who filed the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte, said he is expecting a “realignment” in the House of Representatives.
Alejano, who was in the city Tuesday for various engagements, admitted that the move to oust the President would be an uphill battle because Duterte’s allies hold the “super majority” in the Congress.
He remained optimistic though as some of his colleagues have signified support to the impeachment move.
Alejano, however, who hails from Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, refused to say how many lawmakers are supporting his move.
Alejano said he is prepared for a possible worst-case scenario on the outcome of the complaint because the administration controls an overwhelming majority in the Congress.
“If the complaint will be junked, so be it. The point is that we expressed ourselves and we raised the issue,” he said.
On March 16, Alejano, who is allied with opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, filed the impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives Secretary General. He alleged that the President violated the Constitution and betrayed the public trust with his actions.
In his petition, Alejano accused Duterte of committing “culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.”
Alejano said all of the acts "constitute proper grounds" for Duterte's impeachment from the position of the President, according to Section 2 and 3, Article 11 (Accountability of Public Officers) of the 1987 Constitution.
The Congress is in a six-week Holy Week break. The House can act on the complaint only when the sessions resume on May 2.
Alejano also denied allegations that Liberal Party and Vice President Leni Robredo are behind the complaint.