No surprise over critics’ impeach rap vs. Robredo — legal adviser

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo dismissed as “baseless” the impeachment complaint set to be filed against her by a group of lawyers, who are vocal critics of her on social media.

Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s legal adviser, said they are no longer surprised by the complaint, expected on Tuesday afternoon, as the group “Impeach Leni Movement” already announced such intent. 

“Hindi naman kagulat-gulat ‘yon. Matagal na naming ine-expect na magfa-file ng impeachment complaint,” Gutierrez told reporters. “Pero sa kuwento na narinig namin a few weeks ago sa kanilang press conference, mukhang wala naman talagang batayan. In fact, they were attempting to crowd-source on fishing expedition,” he said.

“[M]alinaw naman po na ito ay paninira lang at harassment at wala talagang batayan na malinaw,” he added.

Gutierrez said they are confident in facing the said complaint, and noted that the Vice President would rather focus on her work.

“Hindi pa namin nakikita ‘yung complaint na ifa-file mamaya, pero hindi kami kinakabahan. Kami, we’d rather focus on ‘yung trabaho kung saan hinalal si Vice President Robredo. Pero siyempre, kung kailangang harapin, haharapin,” he said.

Gutierrez also noted that Robredo’s Liberal Party allies at the House of Representatives have declared a “clear” position to go against any impeachment rap against her. 

This would be the second impeachment rap submitted against Robredo, who recently went under fire for a controversial recorded speech, played at a side session organized in line with the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting in March.

The first complaint came from two former senatorial aspirants and known supporters of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos – lawyer Oliver Lozano and Mel Chavez – who scored the Vice President for the said video message.

The “Impeach Leni Movement” then announced that they were working on a separate complaint. 

The group includes lawyers Bruce Rivera, who used to represent alleged “pork barrel queen” Janet Lim-Napoles, Tom Berenguer, and Ahmed Paglinawan; political science professor Antonio Contreras; and Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Sec. Epimaco Densing III has also been involved in the said case build-up.

An impeachment complaint filed by private citizens needs the endorsement of a member of the House of Representatives, where the process begins.

Lozano and Chavez are seeking the endorsement of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for theirs. The “Impeach Leni Movement,” meanwhile, earlier said they were in talks with congressmen for the said endorsement.  — RSJ, GMA News