Opposition lawmakers want Aquino to finish term until 2016

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (February 16, 2015). (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

MANILA — The House of Representatives Independent bloc on Wednesday said they are not supporting any attempt to disrupt the term of office of President Benigno Aquino III.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said people calling for the President to step down should instead rally behind the Chief Executive and unite against common enemy of the State. Independent bloc is composed of 17 members.

“We always want to follow the constitutional processes. And I think it is still best for the country to finish his (President Aquino) term,” Romualdez told House reporters in a press conference.

He said this is the right time to face the people as he watered down the call of impeachment which he described as “already forgone.”

“The process will overtake itself. So let’s not go around that line,” Romualdez pointed out as he reminded that there is a one-year ban of filing an impeachment complaint.

The last impeachment against President Aquino was last October 2014. This is also the month of filing of candidacy of those who want to seek the people’s mandate on May 2016 presidential elections.

According to Atienza, election is just around the corner and this year is considered as an election year.

“There are a lot of people interested to run in a particular position who are already making the rounds,” he said.

To neutralize people shaking the government, the lawmakers said they should change their play by telling what really transpired in the Mamasapano incident.

Atienza cited the fate of former US President Richard Nixon who was involved in the Watergate scandal which forced him to resign to avoid being impeached.

Nixon tells his participation in the scandal after his resignation and his successor, former US President Gerard Ford forgave him and the Americans for telling the truth.

In 1963, US President John F. Kennedy stood path and face the nation after 1,500 soldiers died when US tried to regain Cuba.

Not a single person, or military personnel was able to land on Cuban soil. Cuban President Fidel Castro led his men and killed the Americans while they were about to land.

“He (Kennedy) went on national television and I will never forget that address to the world. When he admitted, he said, ‘We had to act because a very unfriendly government has taken over our neighbor of 40 miles away from Florida and their putting up missiles in the US mainland. We have to act and we were forced to really do this. We tried landing our forces in the Bay of Pigs area and we failed, 1,500 lives were lost and I really take full responsibility for this situation’,” said Kennedy.

“American people rally around their President because he tried doing something about the threat to the US mainland. So what’s wrong in getting Marwan and Usman and what’s wrong with the tragic,” Atienza further claimed.

Romualdez also recalled when Tony Fernandez of Air Asia admitted his responsibility after one of his plane crashed killing all people on board in Indonesian waters.

“I’m sorry. I’m responsible. What happened, instead of being crucified by the media he was praised. How he handled the situation he owned it a lot personally,” Romualdez said.