Erap, Jinggoy: PNoy won’t be impeached

President Benigno Aquino III won't suffer the same fate as that of former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, who was impeached late that year and eventually forced out of Malacañang the following year.

On Tuesday, both Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his father said they believe that President Aquino will not be impeached despite the four impeachment complaints filed against him at the House of Representatives. 

Aquino is facing four impeachment complaints – two of them in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program which was declared partially unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

 

"Let's face reality, impeachment is a numbers game. I don't think those in the House can muster the numbers," Jinggoy said during a break in his bail hearings.

 

The younger Estrada is currently detained in connection with his alleged participation in alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam, which saw public funds supposedly diverted to bogus non-government organizations associated with alleged pork scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles.

 

Though Jinggoy believes his arrest was politically motivated, he was not in favor of impeaching Aquino.

 

"I am against it, it will divide the nation. Let him finish his term, his projects that will benefit the people. Tama na yung gantihan, dalawang taon na lang," he said.

 

In a separate interview, the elder Estrada, who is incumbent Manila mayor, said there is not enough evidence to impeach, much more, convict Aquino.

 

"[I] Experienced that when I was President. I hope they have the evidence to prove that. But I don't think it will prosper," the elder Estrada said.

 

"The Congress [House of Representatives], most of them are administration allies. And I don't think they have enough evidence. I dunno, I don't think it will prosper, as far as I can read in the news, unless they can prove it with regards to this DAP," Estrada said.

In late 2000, then-President Estrada was impeached over allegations that he amassed illegal wealth from jueteng proceeds, among other issues. Estrada was the first President to be impeached.

Though his impeachment trial was cut short, the public outrage led to EDSA People Power II in early 2001, when the military leadership withdrew its support from Estrada and paved the way for then-Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to assume the presidency.  

Both Estradas were then jailed for plunder. In 2007, Jinggoy was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan but his father was convicted. Mrs. Arroyo pardoned the elder Estrada that same year. — RSJ, GMA News