Alyansa campaign chief explains why Senate bets shouldn't talk about VP Duterte impeachment
At A Glance
- For Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign manager Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, it's justified for senatorial candidates to not publicly talk about Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.
Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (left) Vice President Sara Duterte (MANILA BULLETIN, PPAB)
For Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign manager Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, it's justified for senatorial candidates to not publicly talk about Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.
Tiangco had this to say after the 12 Alyansa bets didn't bring up the hot button topic during their campaign kickoff rally in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte last Tuesday, Feb. 11
In an online interview Wednesday night, Feb. 12 Tiangco acknowledged that those who would be elected as senators later this year could become judges in the upcoming Senate impeachment court that would try the Vice President.
"All the more they couldn't talk about it. Kasi di ba hindi naman sila pwedeng mag pre-judge doon sa kaso, lalung lalo na kung hindi pa nila nababasa. So mas mabuti na hindi na pag-usapan yung bagay na yan," he said.
(Because they can't pre-judge the case especially if they haven't read it yet. So it's better to not talk about those things.)
"At least, they will come in kapag manalo sila with an open mind (At least, when they win, they will come with an open mind), and they will judge it really based on the merits," the veteran congressman said.
He made these remarks amid claims from several quarters that the impeachment was an election issue.
Tiangco said there was no directive from him as campaign manager for the Alyansa bets to avoid talking about Vice President Duterte's impeachment.
"No. Walang direktiba (There's no directive). They're free to talk about anything they want to. Makikita mo naman yung diverse stand on certain issues ng ating candidates (You can see the diverse stand that our candidates have on certain issues)."
Last Feb. 5, Duterte became the first Vice President to be impeached by the House of Representatives.