Laced with risks

By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN

TWO IMPEACHMENT cases have already been filed against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

And the ball is now in the Speaker Martin Romualdez-led House of Representatives on how to dribble the impeachment complaints.

Romualdez, as everybody knows, is the current political nemesis of Sara, as both are perceived to be strong contenders for the presidential race in 2028.

It’s incumbent, therefore, for the public to think of a “cooking lesson” in Congress to “grill” the impeachment complaints against Rody Duterte’s beloved daughter.

Adding to the political flame amid this impeachment moment is President Bongbong Marcos dining and wining with lawmakers at Malacañang on Wednesday night, December 4.

Question: What was the agendum?

President Bongbong doesn’t want to impeach Sara. But as what many say: Action speaks louder than words.

INC INTERVENTION

Now, the before the impeachment complaints take center stage at the Lower House – the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), considered to be a force to reckon with.

The 110-year-old Christian congregation with 2.8 million members at present doesn’t want Sara impeached, its official statement said.

Too, it doesn’t want a political divide between President Bongbong and Sara, whom they endorsed in the 2022 elections.

Common knowledge dictates that INC serves as a “refuge” for almost all politicians in the country both in the national and local scenes during election time. Whoever it endorses, members vote religiously.

INC has this “unique power” that expands even up to politics despite the fact that the 1987 Philippine Constitution is so loud and clear about the separation of State and Church.

WHO WILL DISOBEY INC.?

Now, that is the question.

Will it be President Bongbong?

Or will it be Speaker Romualdez?

Senate President Chiz Escudero warned Senators to stay out of the impeachment issues. For now.

The Senate is the ultimate court for impeachment cases. Chiz wants his colleagues to remain impartial at this time.

Nice decision.

In the local scene, Negros Occidental’s Goveñ. Bong Lacson also asked local officials not to take sides. He told them to just focus on their work.

ALL’S MUM

One thing notable, however, is that no local politicians wanted to comment on the issue. All’s mum, really!

Atty. Cesar Beloria, a political analyst in Bacolod City, has this quip: The impeachment issue is laced with risks.

Why?

Politicians see Sara as the stronger contender in the presidential race in 2028, Beloria said

Commenting on the raging issue right now could endanger a politician’s standing towards the much-awaited 2028 presidential poll, he explained.

Beloria is right. Too risky to comment right now, or to take a stand either pro-, or anti-Sara.

‘INDIRECT PRESSURE’

Going back to INC, whether we like it or not, their statement against impeachment is an “indirect pressure” on President Bongbong’s administration.

Even Speaker Romualdez, for sure, will have to clip his wings.

Considering the number of their worshipers, for sure no politician will ever want to go astray.

Quite amusing.

Is Sara “dies-dies” laughing now?

Yep! Maybe!/PN