The Iglesia Ni Cristo national rally for peace last week served as a “political pressure” to deter an independent branch of government from performing its Constitutional duty when it comes to an impeachment process, chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said.
Enrile, in a Facebook post, said he never questioned the peaceful conduct of the rally even as he pointed out that the gathering was held even if there were no actual grievances to be redressed.
“To me, although it was well-intentioned, the peace rally was more like a political pressure to hinder a separate and independent department of the government to perform a constitutional duty. This was evident from the speeches delivered in that rally,” he said.
“So many people, especially members of the INC, were so riled and angry at me for the post I made recently about the INC peace rally. I would like to explain why I made that post,” Enrile added.
The 100-year-old lawyer also noted that only the President has the power and duty to coordinate with the two other branches of government to achieve and maintain unity and harmony in governance.
In a follow up post, which Enrile said would be his last on the matter, he told his critics: “Neither you nor I have a monopoly of the truth.”
“I represent no partisan group in this country. I do not know whether you do. As far as the personal attacks and issues you raised against me—the faults, the blames, the defects, and wrongdoings you attributed to me, as well as the ad hominem you threw against me—I am ready, and willing to face anyone before the people in any forum to discuss and debate about them,” he said.
Last week, Mr. Marcos said the timing of the impeachment moves against Vice President Sara Duterte was “very poor” given the looming campaign season.
The chief executive, however, acknowledged the legal insight of his chief legal counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile, that junking the impeachment based solely on the position of one group would be a “very detrimental precedent.”
“JPE [Enrile] is one of our best legal thinkers in the country, and he is right—there is a consequence, and there will be a precedent, and it will be very problematic,” the President said.
Duterte is facing three impeachment complaints before the House of Representatives for alleged violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder and malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
In November last year, Mr. Marcos said filing an impeachment complaint against Duterte will only distract the government from the real work of the government “which is to improve the lives of all Filipinos.”
The President said the move to impeach Duterte is just a waste of time, as “none of this will help improve a single Filipino life.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Enrile explains why INC rally is a political pressure, lawyer agrees”