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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Enrile warns vs 'detrimental precedent' if INC rally's implied logic is followed

Enrile warns vs 'detrimental precedent' if INC rally's implied logic is followed

Published Jan 16, 2025 08:31 am

If the logic implied during the peace rally of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is followed, it will "incur a very detrimental precedent," Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said.

juan ponce enrile - sandiganbayan acquittal.jpg
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)

"As a nation and a state, we will incur a very detrimental precedent if we follow the logic implicit in the INC rally that they mounted. Are we prepared and ready to face the long term consequences of that INC move?" Enrile warned in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, Jan. 15.

The Presidential legal counsel said there is a bigger question in the INC's peace rally, although the INC has clarified that the rally was not political and has nothing to do with the impeachment raps filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Can the INC with all its members amend the Constitution or suspend any of its provisions? Are we prepared to discard or sacrifice the value of Rule of Law for a person or a group of persons? Impeachment is just a constitutional legal process to remove a government official from his office if there is a ground and evidence to support it," Enrile stressed.

"The impeached official is not going to jail by the mere fact of his impeachment," he added.

While the President's legal counsel warned against the precedent the INC rally may incur, the Palace maintains President Marcos' position over the impeachment cases against Duterte.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stressed that the "President has always nurtured a culture of open ventilation of ideas within the Cabinet."

"In this way, policymaking is enriched by diverse views resulting in decisions distilled from a wealth of varied experiences, different disciplines, and special expertise of those who contribute," Bersamin said.

"It is in this spirit that Secretary Enrile came forward with his views," he added.

Bersamin further said that while Enrile's thoughts "may carry weight and are always valued," his views are "one of many that the President seriously considers."

"Nonetheless, the President’s stand on the issue concerned remains unchanged," the Executive Secretary said.

Related Tags

Iglesia Ni Cristo Juan Ponce Enrile President Marcos Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin
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