President Benigno Aquino III AP
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III did not influence the decision members of the House of Representatives to vote against the three impeachment complaints that were filed against him as he believed that justice would prevail in the end, a Malacañang spokesman said Tuesday.
“Wala pong ginamit na impluwensiya ang ating Pangulo at ang ating pamahalaan,” said Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office in a press conference.
(The President and the government did not exert any influence.)
“Sa kanyang interview noong isang linggo lamang, sinabi ng Pangulo na nananalig siya na iiral ang katarungan. Kaya ‘yan ang aming posisyon hinggil sa bagay na ‘yan,” Coloma said.
(In his [President Aquino] interview last week, the President said that he believed that justice would prevail. That is our position on the matter.)
Coloma added that the Palace respected the decision of the committee on justice.
Kung ‘yun ang pasya ng mga kagawad ng committee on justice ng House of Representatives, maaari siguro natin masabi na ‘yan ang outcome ng kanilang proseso,” Coloma added.
(If that is the decision of the members of the committee on justice of the House of Representatives, we can say that it is the outcome of their process.)
Coloma also said that it did not fear that protests would be launched following the junking of the impeachment complaints, saying that dissent is inherent in a democracy.
“Sa ating demokrasya ay handa tayong humarap sa mga makatwiran at mapayapang paglalahad ng saloobin ng mga mamamayan,” Coloma said.
(In our democracy, we are ready to face just and peaceful means of expression of the people.)
The three impeachment charges filed against Aquino were thumbed down by the House committee on justice Tuesday by a vote of 54 in favor of junking the charges, and four against.
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