By Leonardo Micua

 

AFTER 215 House representatives endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on the last day of their session, the first to third complaints are now moot and academic.

The complaint reached the Senate, which will serve as an impeachment court, on the same day, but the legislative body adjourned without discussing the complaint.

Although the 10 congressmen who will prosecute VP Sara during the impeachment trial are now ready to discharge their functions, the senators are apparently not ready to do their assigned task.

This means that the Senate will only include the impeachment of VP Sara in the agenda when its sessions resume after the May election.

PBBM initially discouraged his allies in Congress from impeaching Sara, which to him will only serve as distraction to their work, divide the Filipinos, and will not do good to the citizenry.

But PBBM apparently changed his mind and may have given his blessing for Sara’s impeachment following his talk with chief legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.

VP Sara’s last cards are really with the senators, a few of whom are her political allies and protégés of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Among those who did not sign the impeachment complaint include Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Erwin Tulfo, the Revillas and Camille Villar, who are both running for the senate under the administration ticket.

Rep. Sandro Marcos, out of delicadeza, should have inhibited himself from signing the impeachment complaint being the son of PBBM.

However, Sara may still keep her job as she still has the numbers in the Senate to get herself acquitted of all the articles of impeachment she is being accused of, a situation that could embarrass all her House accusers, including PBBM.

But standing as accused in an impeachment trial may not be good for her politically. It could even derail her chances to be the next president.

The congressmen-prosecutors whom she despised in their committee hearings in the blue ribbon and quad com will definitely lose no time on skinning her like a fish.

If she eventually gets acquitted, she can still take the path to the presidency.

Her allies here in Dagupan will feel sad if she fails to pursue her presidential dream.

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A report that two China Coast Guard vessels came close to Pangasinan and La Union after lingering for quite a long time in waters off Mindoro before being driven out to high seas is disturbing, if not disappointing,

At only 34 nautical miles away from the shores of Bolinao, the two CCG vessels were clearly within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (PEZZ). This was the closest incursion ever by Chinese vessels in our territory, which certainly will be repeated again and again.

Recall that the Chinese had unlawfully annexed the Scarborough Shoal, which we call Bajo de Masinloc, located some 100 kilometers away from Zambales. 

The area was a veritable fishing ground for both Pangasinan and Zambales fishermen until it was seized by Chinese militia, supported by the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard. 

What’s ironic is, we are importing galunggong from China which were caught by Chinese fishermen at a lagoon within our own Bajo de Masinloc.

Noting the repeated presence of foreign ships within our EZZ, observers said the real intention of the invaders is to exhaust both our limited resources, and our patience because every time we chase them, we are spending fuel and manhours, and losing our cool. 

The Philippines’ still best option is to strengthen our ties with our traditional allies — U.S., Japan, Australia, and India, who want to keep free navigation in international waters.

PBBM was right when he said the Philippines would not send back its Typhoon missiles to USA until China leaves WPS and destroys its man-made islands therein. 

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