Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates on Friday dismissed an attempted impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., calling it baseless and a desperate political maneuver designed to distract voters in the final days of the campaign period.
Former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo made the statements during a press conference in Mandaluyong City, held hours before Alyansa’s miting de avance, which would be headlined by President Marcos.
Sotto said the move was clearly timed to sabotage the President’s allies and sway public opinion during the homestretch of the 90-day national campaign period.
He noted that there is no time left for the complaint to prosper, as Congress will resume session only from June 2 to 13, and even just acknowledging the filing would already consume several days.
“So, obvious na may koneksyon sa eleksyon. Naninira lang sa eleksyon, ganoon lang ’yon,” Sotto said.
He added: “Sobrang obvious kasi wala namang mangyayari June 2 to June 13. Anong mangyayari doon? Baka pagpipirma pa lang ng mga, ’ika nga, pag-submit, matagal na. Hintay na lang sila ng July para hindi halatang sa eleksyon pala ang target.”
On Thursday, Duterte Youth chair Ronald Cardema and his wife, Duceille Marie, attempted to file an impeachment complaint against President Marcos in connection with the arrest of former leader Rodrigo Duterte by the Interpol at the behest of the International Criminal Court for his role in the bloody drug war carried under the latter’s administration that killed more than 30,000 people. The House House Secretary General was unavailable to receive the complaint due to a scheduled planning session.
Lacson flatly rejected the complaint, saying it lacks any constitutional or legal basis and is driven purely by political motives.
He said the Constitution clearly defines impeachable offenses—such as culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption—and none appear to apply.
“Nasaan ang culpable violation of the Constitution? Graft and corruption? Hindi ko makita kung ano ‘yung basehan kung bakit mayroong nag-file ng impeachment complaint,” Lacson said.
“I’m not defending the President, pero ’yung the act itself na mag-file ng impeachment complaint na walang basehan, kita mo kung ano ’yung motive. Siyempre politika,” he added.
Tulfo, meanwhile, warned that abusing the impeachment process for political theater only wastes public time and resources.
“Karapatan ng lahat, maaring mag-file ng impeachment complaint. Ang tanong lamang d’yan, may basis ba? Problema d’yan … may form ba at substance? ’Yun ang pinag-uusapan palagi,” Tulfo said.
He continued: “Otherwise, masasayang lang ang oras mo, ’yong panahon mo na iginugol mo doon sa pagpa-file ng impeachment—mababasura lang ’yan. Kailangan talaga, gaya ng sinabi ng mga kasama ko, dapat may basehan. Hindi ’yung basta file ka lang ng file ng impeachment.”
The Alyansa slate also includes former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Lito Lapid, former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.