Impeaching VP Sara Duterte is a dangerous proposition. Its impact is huge in the balance of power in the country. VP Sara represents not just one of houses in this power struggle. She is the face of Mindanao and the kind of politics that has challenged the rule of the elite. Some sectors want to portray the move as an issue of accountability and transparency. Even that is problematic knowing the true agenda of the House of Representatives and Senator Risa Hontiveros. It is obvious that the issue is not only what mainstream media want people to believe. It’s about power and control.
The effects of this power struggle are already felt. Big ticket projects are unfunded, according to reports. Many are also questioning the unvetted distribution of cash assistance. The motive behind the same cannot be hidden from the public. Nevertheless, a distinction needs to be done between the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program and the ayuda (assistance) system. The first has a serious screening process while the latter is strictly for political purposes in which barangay captains make a list of the beneficiaries. The recipients of ayuda are the constituents that they will try to influence.
The House of Representatives, controlled by the President’s party, can be expected to send the impeachment complaint against VP Sara through a resolution to shortcut the process. That is a possibility, although we haven’t heard of anything from the House Speaker as of the moment. While such move is constitutional, it can have deep repercussions in the perception of the public. But nobody really knows what’s in the mind of our top leaders. Nevertheless, the Senate wants to do things carefully. Senate President Chiz Escudero was testing the waters in his recent press conference.
Impeachment is a political process. There will be legal procedures but there is no way of controlling how the public might react. The reason for the impeachment appears obvious. In this power struggle, most people want to reduce everything into a zero-sum game. But this is not good for our democracy. While they insist on a moral ground, everyone knows that such is not the case. People simply have to look into the power players behind this for them to realize that this will not bring any good for the country. It will continue to divide us and drag us into the pit.
Instead of tying us in the greed for power, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should instead focus on implementing meaningful programs in agriculture as suggested by former Governor Manny Pinol, steer us into a vision for the future through an infrastructure renaissance, and address rising inequalities. Giving money to millions without a clear aim is simply putting our resources down the drain. It only tolerates indolence and does not improve the standard of living of the poor. Senator Ping Lacson’s call is valid and timely. The President can redeem himself by sincerely putting an end to all of this.
But of course, since this fight is becoming ugly, the house of Duterte will not back down. It won’t because what is at stake is not only the legacy of their name but the future of this country. What is happening with all these legislative inquiries in aid of legislation can only be proof that our democracy is alive, albeit dying with signs of stress and structural weaknesses. Indeed, the realignment of groups who were in the past critical of the Marcos administration, even questioning actions that they call a form of historical revisionism, only proves that they are just being political about it. Morality is distinct from politics when it comes to power relations. It is hypocritical to hide behind a moral veil. Leila de Lima is out for revenge.
While we respect the right of cause-oriented groups and well-meaning individuals to file these impeachment complaints, we know that what should guide everyone is the greater good of the country – unity instead of divisiveness, development instead of political interests, and social justice instead of power. The reason is simple. If a power struggle were to be legitimate, it must be for one sole purpose – the good of the Filipino people.
