Impeachment case vs Marcos meant to sabotage polls – Alyansa bets

The bid to file an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is nothing but an act to sabotage the May 12 polls, according to Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates. Photo from Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas 2025/FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — The bid to file an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is nothing but an act to sabotage the May 12 polls, according to Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates.

Senatorial aspirants Vicente Sotto, Panfilo Lacson, and Erwin Tulfo questioned the timing of the impeachment case to be filed against the President by known allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The candidates spoke at a press conference on Friday, before the administration slate’s Miting de Avance.

Former Senate President Sotto, for his part, said it’s evident that nothing would happen with the filing attempt since there would no longer be time to tackle the document.

“Magre-resume sila June 2 hanggang June 13. Pagre-report out pa lang nun, pagre-report pa lang nun or pag-acknowledge pa lang ng receipt nun few days na. So obvious na may koneksyon sa eleksyon. Naninira sa eleksyon ganoon lang ‘yon,” said Sotto.

([Congress] resumes on June 2 and will adjourn on June 13. It will take a few days to report out [the complaint]. So it’s obvious that this is connected to the elections. It’s meant to destroy the elections.)

According to Sotto, the proponents should have waited for July so it wouldn’t be too obvious that this is an attempt to “target” the midterm elections slated for May 12.

Baseless attempt

Lacson backed Sotto’s remarks, admitting that he sees no basis for the complaint. He specifically noted that it’s clear in the Constitution what impeachable offenses against impeachable officials are.

READ: Duterte allies to file impeachment complaint vs Marcos

“Nasaan ang culpable violation of the constitution? Graft and corruption. Hindi ko makita kung ano ‘yong basehan kung bakit mayroong nag-file ng impeachment complaint. I’m not defending the president ‘no pero ‘yong the act itself na mag-file ng impeachment complaint na walang basehan kita mo kung ano ‘yong motive. Siyempre, politika,” said Lacson.

(Where is the culpable violation of the Constitution? Graft and corruption? I cannot see the basis for the filing of the impeachment complaint. I’m not defending the president but from the act itself of filing the impeachment complaint that has no basis, you can see the motive. Of course, it’s politics.)

Meanwhile, Tulfo believes everyone has the right to file an impeachment complaint against officials, but he emphasized the need for it to have a basis.

“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 ‘yong basta file ka lang ng file ng impeachment.

READ: Not much to do with impeachment raps vs Marcos, session in break

Former Duterte Youth party list Rep. Marie Cardema and ex-National Youth Commission chairperson Ronald Cardema disclosed on March 8 their attempt to file an impeachment complaint against Marcos.

They alleged President Marcos committed a betrayal of the public trust after he allowed the arrest of Duterte and his turnover to the International Criminal Court. The former president is now facing a case of crimes against humanity in connection to his bloody drug war that left thousands dead./coa/abc