Partylist solon seeks ‘political ceasefire’ during Holy Week

“At the outset, I would like to appeal to all political forces for Lenten meditation and reflection, especially in the wake of impeachment charges being hurled against the President and the Vice President by their respective supporters,” Roque said in a press conference. (Photo: Harry Roque/ Facebook)

MANILA –A partylist lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Monday called upon political forces to shun divisive politics during the Holy Week.

Kabayan Partylist Rep. Harry Roque made the call in the wake of an impeachment complaint lodged against President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as a potential impeach move against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“At the outset, I would like to appeal to all political forces for Lenten meditation and reflection, especially in the wake of impeachment charges being hurled against the President and the Vice President by their respective supporters,” Roque said in a press conference.

Roque urged Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano to withdraw his impeachment complaint against the President to prevent “political turmoil” and “legislative paralysis” in the lower chamber.

Roque reiterated that the move to oust Duterte is bound to fail, stressing the need for more case building for it to prosper, especially on the matter of “extralegal killings”.

As for the possible impeach move against the Vice President, Roque said that while the administration has the numbers for the case to prosper, Robredo’s video message to the United Nations is “insufficient” to prove betrayal of public trust.

“For the impeachment complaint against her to succeed in the Senate, the complainants must have other evidence to show that she intends to remove the President from office in order to succeed him,” Roque said.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said he is studying the possibility of filing an impeachment complaint against Robredo, who sent a video message to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs where she criticized the conduct of the administration’s drug war.

“I would like to appeal to the Speaker that while the majority has the numbers to impeach Vice President Robredo in the House, the House of Representatives should also insure conviction in the Senate to safeguard integrity and reputation of the House, and this, too, entails case building,” Roque said.