📷Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares | FB
Former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares today called on all candidates in the 2025 elections to publicly declare their position on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment, emphasizing that accountability for public funds should be a crucial election issue.
“Dapat maging isyu sa eleksyon ang impeachment. Kailangang malaman ng taumbayan kung sino ang mga kandidatong handang manawagan ng accountability sa pag lustay ng pondo ng bayan at sino ang mga nagbubulag-bulagan sa pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan
Colmenares, who was a public prosecutor on the impeachment of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, stated.
“The Constitution grants the President the power to call for a special session any time without needing a senate request. We call for the immediate convening of the Impeachment Court and speedy disposition of the Duterte impeachment case,” he added.
The former legislator emphasized that there is sufficient time to complete the trial before June 30, 2025, saying “The public prosecutors only need to focus on the strongest ground and employ only 1 or 2 acts that can easily be proved using official documents from COA and DBM.”
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na patagalin pa ang impeachment trial. Ang P125 million na pinag-uusapan dito ay pera ng taumbayan. May karapatan ang mamamayan na malaman kung paano ito ginastos sa loob lamang ng 11 araw,” Colmenares stressed.
He urged media organizations and educational institutions to include the impeachment issue in their election forums: “We ask all media outfits conducting debates for candidates for senators and the partylist to include in their questions the candidates’ position on the impeachment case. The public deserves to know where candidates stand on this crucial issue of accountability.” #
