President Aquino calls Representative Danilo Suarez a troublemaker

Representative Danilo Suarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Monday called House Minority Leader Rep. Danilo Suarez a “troublemaker” for threatening him with an impeachment complaint which the Chief Executive said was based on a government transaction that was concluded more than a decade ago.

Interviewed after presiding over a nearly three hour-long command conference at the Philippine National Police, Mr. Aquino said the complaint was based on the sale of a government property in Baguio City in 1991 which was paid for in full by 1997, a year before he became a Tarlac congressman.

“Parang ayaw ko na ring pansinin kasi iyang taong iyan wala ginawa kundi idemanda na lang lahat ng tao sa government (I am inclined to ignore this because that man has not done anything but sue everyone in government),” the President said.

He said three administrations had passed since the sale but the transaction still had not been approved with finality. So he had it checked by Malacanang lawyers who he said did not find anything objectionable about it.

“How has that become a crime on my part? This man had already brought actions against many people. So if he is going to sue me, I will defend myself if the charge will result in a hearing. But if it doesn’t go there, I have many things that occupy me to give attention to a senseless claim,” Mr. Aquino said in Filipino.