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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Makabayan bloc's impeachment case vs VP Sara reeks of 'political opportunism' – NSC

Makabayan bloc's impeachment case vs VP Sara reeks of 'political opportunism' – NSC

Published Dec 7, 2024 05:08 am
Performance matters in gov’t service – Malaya
National Security Council (NSC) Asst. Director General Jonathan Malaya (File photo)

The Makabayan bloc’s endorsement of an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is nothing but “political opportunism”, the National Security Council (NSC) said.

In a press conference Friday, Dec. 6, NSC Asst. Director General Jonathan Malaya said that minority lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc only want to gain political mileage since the May 2025 midterm elections is just around the corner.

“The position of the NTF-ELCAC is very clear: we agree with the President [Marcos Jr.] We agree that the Makabayan's impeachment of VP Sara is a distraction from the more urgent issues facing the country. The President is correct, it will tie down the Senate, it will tie down the House,” he said.

“Now, Makabayan's call for impeachment, they are filing cases left and right, why are they doing that? Again, very clearly, it is political opportunism and political mileage,” he added.

The three-member Makabayan bloc composed of ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Representative Raoul Manuel endorsed last Dec. 4 the second impeachment complaint against Duterte due to her alleged misuse of public funds and threats to President Marcos Jr.

The complaint was prepared by over 70 signatories from civil society groups.

The Left-leaning lawmakers have also launched a signature drive to hasten the transmittal of the articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives to the Senate.

Earlier, the Makabayan bloc slammed Malaya for allegedly “red-tagging” them and linking them to a supposed destabilization plot over the impeachment rap.

“We never said that the impeachment is destabilization. What we said was that the violent action by the Left in Mendiola last Bonifacio Day is an attempt to manufacture a political crisis and create violence in the streets,” Malaya responded.

Militant groups launched a Bonifacio Day protest at the Mendiola Peace Arch in Manila last Nov. 30 where an activist was arrested and a cop was hurt.

“The concern of NTF-ELCAC, and in particular the National Security Council, is political stability, economic development and national security. So any attempt by anyone to create violence which we have seen during the Bonifacio Day protest is something that alarms us,” Malaya said.

Related Tags

National Security Council (NSC) VP Sara Duterte Impeachment complaint Jonathan Malaya makabayan bloc
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