By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – Any threat against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. must be taken seriously, especially when it is alleged to have come from his own constitutional successor, House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chair Joel Chua said Monday.
“Ang ating Pangulo po ang nagre-representa ng ating bansa, ng bawat Pilipino. At ang nagbibigay po ng threat ay ang Pangalawang Pangulo, ‘yung magiging constitutional successor ng ating Pangulo. Kaya ito po ay hindi po pwedeng balewalain. Ito po ay isang seryosong bagay na hindi po pwedeng palagpasin (Our president represents the country and every Filipino. And the one threatening is the Vice President, the President’s constitutional successor. So, this should not be ignored. This is a serious matter that should not be set aside),” Chua, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said.
The impeachment complaints cite an alleged threat made by Duterte against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The allegation stemmed from statements attributed to Duterte in late 2024, when she claimed to have spoken to a contract killer to target top government officials.
The House Committee on Justice has already found the complaints sufficient in form, substance, and grounds, and is now conducting hearings to determine probable cause.
The panel is set to focus on the alleged threat in its next hearing on April 29, where officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are expected to appear as resource persons.
Chua said the allegation involving the threat carries serious constitutional implications, pointing to two grounds for impeachment: culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
He said threatening the President is both a breach of constitutional duty and betrays public trust because the President is elected by the people.
He emphasized that officials like Vice President Duterte derive their authority from the people and are expected to enforce, not violate, the law.
“Dahil ang taong bayan po, binibigyan po sila ng mandato na kaya po sila binoto para ipatupad ‘yung batas. Pero ang lumalabas, sila pa po ang susuway at lalabag sa batas (The people voted for them to give them the mandate to enforce the law. But it appears that they are the ones violating them),” Chua said.
“So maliwanag na maliwanag po ‘yan (So, it is very clear), culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” he reiterated. (PNA)
