Palace cautions vs. delayed impeachment process impact on economy

Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (PNA photo by Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday called on the Senate to consider the potential impact of the delays in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on the Philippine economy.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said it is “alarming” that the business sector has already issued a warning that failure to uphold rule of law could affect investor confidence in the long term.

“Mismong nasa business sector na po ang naaalarma sa nangyayari sa Senado patungkol po sa impeachment trial. At hindi po talaga nanaisin na makapag-invest, maaalerto po talaga ang mga investor natin kung may issue po at inaakusahan ang siyang lider ng korapsyon at mukhang nagkakampihan pa ng ibang senator-judges (Even the business sector is alarmed by what is happening in the Senate regarding the impeachment trial. And they would really not want to invest, our business investors will be alerted if there is an issue and the leader is accused of corruption and it seems that other senators-judges are siding with her),” Castro said.

“So, nakakaalarma po ito dahil gumaganda po ang ekonomiya ng bansa. Taliwas po ito sa sinabi ng Bise Presidente na bagsak ang ekonomiya (this is alarming because the country’s economy is improving. This is contrary to what the Vice President said that the economy is failing).”

Castro said government efforts to improve the economy would just go to waste, if the inaction on Duterte’s impeachment complaint continues.

She said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, must also take into account the investors’ concerns.

“Nakakapanghinayang po kung ang ekonomiya natin ay maaapektuhan ng dahil lamang po sa nangyayari sa Senado. So, ang panawagan lang din po natin sa Senado patungkol po sa impeachment trial, hindi naman po para pabilisin or manghimasok tayo sa ginagawang impeachment trial kundi sundin lamang po ang Constitution at ang rule of law (It would be regrettable if our economy would be affected just because of what is happening in the Senate. So, our only appeal to the Senate regarding the impeachment trial is not to hasten the ongoing impeachment trial as we woll not interfe but to simply follow the Constitution and the rule of law),” she said.

Castro also maintained that the executive branch would not meddle in the impeachment process.

The Makati Business Club earlier urged the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty by proceeding with the impeachment trial.

Last week, Castro stressed the importance of lawmakers’ neutrality in handling the impeachment case of Duterte, as she cited her observation that some of the senator-judges had shown their “biases” when the Senate convened as an impeachment court.