LAWMAKERS will shield President-elect Rodrigo Duterte from any impeachment complaint that might be filed against him, outgoing Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Tuesday.
Any move to oust the former mayor of Davao would have no chance.
“Let’s face it: the chances of that [impeachment] is zero and nobody would even think of it,” Belmonte told reporters.
At the same time, one of the vice chairmen of the Liberal Party appealed to all sectors to unite behind the new administration and allow Duterte to fulfill his mandate without any threats of impeachment.
“Let’s give the new President a chance to run the country without talk of impeachment or anything like that,” Belmonte said.
Duterte said the other day he was not afraid of a possible impeachment over his policies.
“Impeachment? Go ahead! I will do what I promise to the people,” Duterte said in his farewell speech as mayor of Davao City during a flag-raising ceremony on Monday.
He said he won the presidential elections because he carried the right message.
Belmonte, who was among those who voted to impeach President Joseph Estrada, Chief Justice Renato Corona and Ombudsman Maria Merceditas Gutierrez, assured Duterte of the support of the members of the 17th Congress.
Duterte had nothing to “fear.”
Belmonte dismissed as baseless talks that the LP was plotting to impeach Duterte to allow their party-mate, Vice President-elect Leni Robredo, to succeed him.
“That is a big joke, pure intrigue. And I am pretty sure that such talks do not come from the media,” Belmonte said.
He said he was confident that Duterte and Robredo would be able to work together for the common good of the people.