House Muslim bloc won’t support call for impeachment against President Aquino

Photo by Robert Viñas / PCOO

MANILA — The Muslim bloc of the House of Representatives on Thursday said they won’t support calls by some sector to impeach President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the recent decision of the Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

House Deputy Speaker Pangalian M. Balindong, speaking for the Muslim bloc in the House of Representatives, “I and the other representatives of the Muslim bloc, have agreed to unite in a common stand that we will not support any attempt by some opposition legislators to file impeachment proceedings against President Benigno S. Aquino III because of the proclamation of the Supreme Court that some sections of the DAP were unconstitutional.”

“As it is our solemn oath to our constituents that we shall act in their behalf, and use our resources and faculties for their good and benefit, so we are duty bound to prioritize the enactment of laws that will positively impact on the lives of our people, that shall result to their economic upliftment, and freedom from internal strife,” he noted.

As the duly elected leaders of the Filipino-Muslims all over the Philippines, Balindong said, members of the Muslim bloc have agreed “with conviction that the nation is now at the threshold of a new era of reconciliation.

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“The Bangsamoro Basic Law shall be the key to a lasting peace in Mindanao, which in turn shall promote development and economic gains for all,” he stressed.

Balindong said it took 400 years before the quest for equality and true integration for all Filipinos could be given this chance, while it took 14 years to come up with the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“Congress cannot and must not stop now this great opportunity for all Filipinos to unite as one people. We firmly state that we will never let politics and greed for power take precedence over the needs of the people. Ambition and lust for power by some misguided opportunists are now trying to sow chaos and confusion to delay, if not totally paralyze the government especially the executive and legislative branch, by going into another long, tedious and acrimonious impeachment proceeding,” he said.

“We, the Muslim bloc of the House of Representatives, will not support any impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives,” he added.

The Supreme Court (SC) earlier acknowledged that the DAP has yielded positive results that enhanced the economy.

The High Court cited such infrastructure as roads, bridges, homes for the homeless, hospitals, and classrooms as among the “visible” results of the program.