Makabayan bloc ready for impeachment proceedings vs. PNoy

Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the Makabayan bloc is ready for the impeachment proceedings against President Benigno Aquino III which might start on Monday.

In a news release on Saturday, Ridon said he believes the case against the president is strong. Ridon endorsed a complaint filed by youth groups over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program on July 22.

“These past weeks, we have carefully prepared for the upcoming impeachment hearing. Even if there are some quarters who blindly seek to block the impeachment proceedings without first hearing the merits of the case, I and my colleagues in Makabayan remain unflustered,” he said.

Ridon was referring to the Visayan bloc composed of 33 lawmakers from the Visayas led by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez who vowed on Friday to stop the impeachment efforts against Aquino.

“Presently, we in Makabayan are as ready as we can be to discuss and defend the merits of the impeachment complaints at the House Justice Committee deliberations,” said Ridon.

The statement came after reports that the House leadership is scheduled to refer the impeachment complaints to the House Justice Committee in the plenary session on Monday.

Ridon also appealed to the House Justice Committee, chaired by Rep. Neil Tupas to consider the merits of the impeachment complaints and refrain from junking the cases just because of party affiliation.

“They should not play blind, deaf, and mute to the travesties committed by the president,” he said.

Aquino faces three impeachment complaints.

Two of these complaints are over the DAP while one is over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the US.

The Makabayan bloc is composed of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Courage, Migrante, ACT-Teachers, Katribu, Akap Bata, Piston, Kalikasan and Aking Bikolnon. The bloc has six seats at the House. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News