Former senator Leila de Lima stressed Monday that members of Congress must remain steadfast and uphold the rule of law in the face of a supposed threat by the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) against efforts to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. 

“It all depends now on the members of Congress. Which one is heavier? The reaction of the INC or is it about upholding the principles of transparency and accountability and upholding the rule of law and the constitution?” De Lima said in an interview.

The INC delivered its pledge to congregate at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to his allies in the House of Representatives to refrain from impeaching Duterte.

Marcos had argued that dethroning the VP would not help improve the lives of Filipinos and that it would only tie down the House and the Senate from its legislative work. Echoing the President, the INC asserted that there are more urgent issues that need to be addressed than the planned ouster of Duterte. 

Based on the estimation of the Philippine National Police, around 1.8 million members of INC joined the nationwide protest on Monday. 

The embattled Duterte is facing three impeachment complaints before the House. The petitioners, coming from multi-sectoral, accused her of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in relation to the alleged irregularities in her use of millions of pesos of her confidential funds. 

Over the weekend, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that politicians might now “hesitate” to support the impeachment petitions since the election period has already begun. The senator also cited the INC’s vote as a key factor contributing to the anticipated failed effort to oust Duterte. 

The INC, a powerful religious sect with millions of followers nationwide, has been renowned for delivering a bloc vote. Its influence in Philippine politics spans several decades, with its leaders strategically positioning the church as a significant political force.

However, De Lima, one of the impeachment petitioners, contended that members of Congress must refrain from being influenced by the pressure brought about by the INC’s rally, citing the recent survey of the Social Weather Stations, showing that 41 percent of Filipinos are backing the ouster of the VP, outpacing those in oppose (35 percent), and undecided (19 percent).

“Unless the INC would back up this rally with a threat not to deliver the so-called bloc votes to pro-impeachment congressmen, then I’m not seeing much effect of this action in order to push for the impeachment of VP Sara,” she added.

Although members of the INC have made it clear that the mobilization was not intended to block the growing clamor to impeach the VP, De Lima insisted that it’s a similar effort.

“Let’s call spade a spade because well they said it’s a rally for peace and unity and they also said that’s in support of the PBBM’s position that impeachment would not be proper at this point. So, it’s basically and essentially a pro-VP Sara and anti-impeachment action,” she argued.

The three petitions remain pending with House Secretary General Reginald Velasco even after more than a month since they were filed. He, however, announced on Friday that the complaints are verified and are ready to be transmitted to House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s office “anytime.”

Some congressmen have expressed reservations about whether the petitions will prosper given the time constraints due to the upcoming elections in May.

De Lima, however, said that in the event the impeachment petitions remain stalled at the end of the 19th Congress, the process can continue in the next Congress without starting from the first step or the filing of petitions.

“Because we can argue that this is a special duty or mandate of Congress separate and distinct from its core mandate of law-making. But of course, we anticipate that issue will reach the Supreme Court. And if the Supreme Court says that it is no longer possible or it’s not constitutional to proceed with the process or the proceedings, then we have to start from scratch,” she stated. 

The impeachment petitions heavily relied on the findings of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which has been rigorously investigating the supposed irregularities in the disbursement of P612.5. million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education when she was still the secretary.

While the VP has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, she remains unfazed, viewing the impending trial as an opportunity to “exclusively” address the corruption allegations leveled against her.