Sen. Antonio Trillanes with members of Magdalo party, shows his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for vice president, at the Palacio del Gobernador in Manila, Tuesday. Trillanes will be running as an independent candidate, but expressed support for Sen. Grace Poe’s presidential bid in the 2016 elections. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – A possible impeachment move could be immediately initiated against Vice President Jejomar Binay if he becomes president, Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV said as the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee concluded on Tuesday its probe on corruption allegations against Binay.
Aside from plunder and graft charges, Trillanes said the subcommittee can still recommend more criminal charges, such as tax evasion, against Binay in connection with alleged anomalies he committed when he was still the mayor of Makati City.
The subcommittee, headed by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, had already come up with a partial report, including a recommendation to file plunder and graft charges against Binay over the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building.
“Every single act constitutes either a graft charge or a plunder charge or other violations of the Revised Penal Code,” Trillanes, who initiated the Senate probe against Binay, said at a press conference after the hearing.
Reminded that Binay would be immune from suit if he gets elected president in the upcoming elections, Trillanes said: “Ganun na nga (That’s how it is) but immediately it can be used as a basis for impeachment.”
“So kaya nga kung ma e-elect man si Vice President Binay na sana huwag namang ipataw sa atin na parusa ng ating Panginoon…magiging unstable ang gobyerno dahil itong lahat ng nangyayaring ito can be used as a basis for impeachment proceedings,” the senator added.
(So if Vice President Binay gets elected (as President) but I hope God won’t punish us if that happens. The government will become unstable because all these things can be used as a basis for impeachment proceedings.)
Trillanes explained that that the crimes need not be committed during the incumbency of the sitting president for it to be able to use as basis for the filing of an impeachment complaint.
“Not necessarily dahil for example kunwari pumatay ka ng tao ngayon tapos naging Presidente ka, so ang Presidente natin, mamatay tao (because for example you have killed a person then you became the President, so our President is a killer)?” he said,
“Yung impeachment is a political exercise. Pag sumang-ayon ang certain number of legislators, mawawalan ka ng immunity na yun (When a certain number of legislators agreed, you will lose that immunity) then you can be removed from office and charged in court,” he further said. (MNS)