‘Aspiring to bring unity at the expense of accountability and transparency in governance while ignoring the lawful impeachment process is essentially undemocratic.’
ACT Teachers’ Party-list Rep. France Castro has claimed the Iglesia Ni Cristo National Peace Rally rally would be used “to shield Vice President Sarah Duterte from the impeachment raps filed against her at the House of Representatives.”
Castro also stressed that “Duterte should be held liable for the misuse of confidential funds and for her responsibility for the deteriorating quality of education in the country.”
Despite the recent Social Weather survey that showed that 41 percent of Filipinos are supporting the impeachment of Duterte, the INC has apparently been emboldened by President Marcos Jr.’s opposition to the move which he warned would be divisive for the country.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin “hopes that the rally will help clarify the issues and contribute to real unity.” Apparently, he doubts the true political intentions of the INC.
Nothing should stop the House of Representatives from conducting hearings on the three complaints already filed against Duterte and holding a plenary vote later, if and when the committees concerned approve the petitions for impeachment.
Aspiring to bring unity at the expense of accountability and transparency in governance while ignoring the lawful impeachment process is essentially undemocratic.
From where we sit, a huge rally by a large influential religious group is aimed to project it as an undeniable political force, especially three months before the local elections.
Ultimately, the President has no recourse but to respect the outcome of the House proceedings that are about to start.
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There is little doubt that Jimmy Carter was one of the few US presidents who left a true legacy of peace, compassion, kindness and tolerance. He signed a peace treaty with Jordan, which hosted terrorist groups that attacked US facilities and interests in the Middle East. He also made sure that enemies became friends.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) then headed by Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin signed a peace agreement at Camp David after Carter brokered a series of peace talks between the two.
A Born-Again Christian, Carter hosted a state visit by the Pope which at that time seemed inconceivable. They held a private two-hour meeting at the White House during which the Pontiff reportedly urged Carter to reach out and help millions of people around the world, especially the sick and suffering.
Perhaps, the world will long remember Carter for helping battle the Guinea worm disease that was causing intense suffering to many thousands in Africa. Through the non-profit Carter Center Carter, he “led a decades-long campaign against the disease, marshaling funding, tracking cases, helping to quell outbreaks and organizing support among world leaders and health agencies.”
The Guinea worm is a parasitic worm that enters people’s bodies through contaminated water in thousands of rural villages. It burrows out of the body, causing agonizing pain as it exits which can take weeks. There is still no known cure against the disease.
Some 3.5 million cases were reported in 1986, five years after Carter’s presidency; preliminary data indicates there were just 11 this year.
Jason Carter has called his grandfather’s vigorously selfless life-long service to family, country and the rest of humanity a “love story.”
Carter spent eight years of his life as governor and president and then relished the rest of 40 years in substantial humanitarian undertakings that seemed unparalleled at this time and made the world better.