ELECTION ISSUE
WHETHER we like it or not , the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte will become an election issue.
This is according to the two members of the so-called Young Guns in the House of Representatives as they urged all senatorial candidates, both in the administration or opposition, to make their independent positions known on the impeachment of Duterte.
House Assistant Majority Leader Pammy Zamora of Taguig City and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez said that these national candidates should also make public their stand with regard to issues of transparency, accountability as well as the judicious use of public funds.
“Absolutely, this will be an election issue. We should be asking our senatorial candidates on how they want their elected officials be penalized with regard to the impunity in the use of taxpayers’ money, or abuse in government coffers,” Zamora said.
“They (Senate bets) should also include in their platforms on how they intend to decide on those who commit what we call culpable violation of the Constitution. So, this is a big challenge and litmus test as to how strong the values of our candidates have on public service. Dapat maging independent sila,” Zamora added.
Her colleague, Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of party-list 1Rider – also a member of the 11-man House Prosecution Panel – echoed the same sentiment that the Duterte impeachment case will definitely be an election issue this campaign season, both in the national and local levels.
“This will definitely be an election issue and I think it should be welcomed. I think this is a sentiment already mentioned also by Senate President (Francis) Escudero that we can compare with the usual elections (before),” he said.
“Our take here is that voters should no longer base their preferences on popularity or personality politics. At least now, we already have an issue on how we think our senatorial candidates will fare with regard to the Duterte impeachment complaint,” the lawyer-legislator pointed out.
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