📷: Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co
Kabataan Party-list has called on Senator JV Ejercito and fellow senator-judges to stop using economic disruption as a justification to delay or derail the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, asserting that corruption poses a far greater threat to the country’s economic stability.
“Corruption is a worse economic disruption. Huwag na sana manakot ang mga senator-judges sa peligro ng impeachment trial. Actually, ikakaginhawa ng ekonomiya ang paglilitis at pagpapanagot sa mga korap,” said Kabataan Rep. Atty. Renee Co.
Co cited a 2019 statement from the Office of the Ombudsman referencing a World Bank study, which revealed that up to 20% of the national budget is lost to corruption annually.
“Fair warning, foreign investments are part of the equation for local corruption, lalo na sa laki ng kickbacks sa infrastructure at iba pang projects. Ang deka-dekadang korapsyon ay kasabwat ng dayuhang pananamantala sa ating ekonomiya,” Co stressed.
“Magpokus sana ang Kongreso sa pagsulong ng tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon kung gusto nating lumakas ang ekonomiya ng bansa,”Co added.
Addressing concerns that the trial might stall legislative work, Co emphasized that the Senate can still fulfill its lawmaking duties.
“Hindi dapat balakid ang trial para makapagsulong pa rin ng batas ang mga Senador. Pwede namang bawasan ang bakasyon at magpatawag ng special na session kung may mahalagang batas na dapat ipasa.”
Co concluded by urging the Senate to prioritize long-overdue pro-people measures: “Sana lang nga mauna na sa listahan ang mga panukala na inisnab o pinatay na lang tulad ng pagdagdag sahod, pagtanggal ng VAT sa langis at iba pa, para sa ikauunlad ng buhay ng ordinaryong Pilipino, higit pa sa ating ekonomiya.” (RRN)
