Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – “Zero.”
That was the answer Thursday of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte when asked if an impeachment case against President Benigno Aquino III would have a chance at the House of Representatives packed with administration allies.
The nation was rife with murmurs about a possible impeachment case against Aquino after Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. claimed in his privilege speech Monday that he was influenced by the President to vote for the ouster of then-chief justice Renato Corona over false statements of net worth.
The president’s supposed manuevers raised questions of propriety if the chief executive may influence a supposedly judicial albeit political trial.
Belmonte said any proposal to impeach the chief executive would not get the support of enough representatives, majority of which support the President’s agenda.
He cited the resolution by Abakada Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz calling for a congressional inquiry on a “possible misuse of public funds” and “abuse of power” in the president’s alleged meddling affairs in the historic impeachment trial.
“It won’t fly. It can be given due course but it won’t get enough people to support it,” Belmonte said.
“That’s the reality,” he added.
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