Dela Rosa on VP Duterte’s impeach raps: ‘I’m expecting the worst’

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Friday said he was “expecting the worst” when it comes to the impeachment cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“I am expecting for the worst,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an online interview when asked about his reaction to the two impeachment cases lodged against Sara Duterte.

“Meaning, magkakaroon talaga ng (there will be an) impeachment,” he added when pressed as to what he meant.

Just this week, two impeachment complaints were filed by progressive groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Akbayan against Duterte over betrayal of public trust.

READ: VP Duterte faces 2nd impeach rap; Palace disowns moves 

The House of Representatives would endorse the impeachment complaint to the Senate, and Dela Rosa believes it would pass through the lower chamber.

“Oo (Yes), I am expecting for the worst,” he reiterated when asked if he thinks that the impeachment complaint would be affirmed by the lower chamber.

“Wala naman akong magawa diyan eh. Di naman ako [si] President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] na mag-text sa kanila na stop that impeachment efforts,” Dela Rosa said.

(I can’t do anything about that. I am not Marcos who could send a text to tell them to stop those impeachment efforts.)

He was alluding to Marcos’ admission that he ordered House leaders not to make impeachment moves against Duterte.

READ: Marcos says he ordered impeachment moves vs VP Sara Duterte stopped 

Dela Rosa, for his part, said he will remain objective regarding Duterte’s impeachment proceedings despite being her close ally.

“Let them (House lawmakers) do their thing. At ‘pag dating dito sa Senado, pag-upo namin (and when it arrives in the Senate, when we assume our role) as an impeachment court, let us do our thing also,” he said.