• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Stressing that impeachment is a numbers game in Congress, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said such complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are unlikely to prosper.
“They may not have the numbers to launch a successful impeachment case,” Lacson said on Tuesday (Feb. 3).
“The filing of impeachment complaints is allowed under a democratic process. Let’s just leave it up to Congress because they are the impeachment court,” he added.
The two impeachment complaints filed against the President were declared “sufficient in form” by the House of Representative panel that began the impeachment proceedings on Monday, noting that all requirements are complete.
The House committee on justice will next determine the substance of the complaints.
Two separate complaints were also filed by civil society groups and the Makabayan bloc against Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly for betrayal of public trust over the alleged misuse of confidential funds, culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.
Lacson raised the possibility that the impeachment complaints against the Philippine top officials may negatively impact the economy.
“Investors, both foreign and local, will take a step back and analyze the situation, if it is best to invest now or not”, the governor said. “However, if we only follow the democratic process, I don’t think it will affect us, as long as there is no constitutional short cuts”. | GB
