Let’s not succumb to intimidation and pressure, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Bam Aquino told colleagues in Congress on Monday amid a reported plan by the House of Representatives to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo. “Our democratic institutions, especially the Senate, must show that we can operate justly without succumbing to intimidation and pressure,” Aquino said in a statement. “Democratic institutions must stand up and fight for our freedom and democracy while we still enjoy it,” he added. Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte raised the specter of impeaching Robredo after a series of events they saw as “coordinated” actions aimed at destabilizing the government. It pointed out that even President Rodrigo Duterte himself had said that the Vice President had nothing to do with destabilization efforts against him.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 20, 2017 04:10 UTC