By Filane Mikee Cervantes
MANILA – Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday said an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is ripe for filing, questioning her fitness to hold the office.
“Siguro naman nakikita naman nung mga kababayan natin na lahat ng mga dangers, mga red flags, yung unfitness ni Sara Duterte to hold a position of Vice President (I believe our fellow citizens can see all the dangers, the red flags, of Sara Duterte’s unfitness to hold the position of Vice President),” Trillanes said in an interview at the sidelines of the House Quad Committee hearing.
Trillanes warned of potential consequences if Duterte were to assume the presidency given her recent behavior.
“She could be president anytime in cases of emergencies. Kaya imagine mo yung asal na nilalabas niya, pinapakita niya, bibigyan mo ng power ng presidency yan, dapat kikilabutan yung bawat Filipino di ba (Imagine her behavior, what she’s showing — if you give that person presidential power, every Filipino should be terrified),” Trillanes added.
In an online briefing on Nov. 23, Duterte said she has contracted an assassin to target President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if the supposed plot to kill her were to succeed.
She issued the supposed threat while she was at the House of Representatives accompanying her chief of staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, who was detained for failing to respond to questions regarding the misuse of funds at the Vice President’s office during a legislative inquiry.
The former senator said that while Duterte faces ongoing legal cases, her position as Vice President still places her in the presidential line of succession.
Trillanes stressed the need for an impeachment.
“Pwede siya kasuhan criminally. In fact, kinakasuhan na siya ngayon. Pero kahit na kasuhan ka ng criminal cases still Vice President ka pa rin, so, anything that happens to the president, pwede ka parin maging presidente. Kailangan matanggal ito sa puwesto (She can be charged criminally. In fact, she is already facing cases now. But even if you face criminal cases, you remain as vice president. Anything that happens to the president, you can still become president. This person needs to be removed from office),” he said.
Trillanes further cast doubt on Duterte’s mental stability.
“May topak eh. Alam naman natin hindi naman tayo psychiatrist pero alam natin yung may topak at yung normal. Eto hindi ito normal pasensya na (She’s crazy. We’re not psychiatrists, but we know the difference between someone who has issues and someone normal. This is not normal, sorry),” he said.
Trillanes suggested that an impeachment complaint against the Vice President is imminent.
“Abangan niyo nalang. Hindi natin alam. Hindi katagalan ang antay niyo (Just wait for it. We don’t know yet, but you won’t have to wait long),” he said. (PNA)
