PNP vows peace, order amid VP Sara impeachment process

The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured Thursday it would maintain the peace and order in the country amid the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said impeachment is a political exercise of Congress that needs to be respected.

"On the part of the PNP, ang ating magiging papel will always be limited sa maintenance ng peace and order (On the part of the PNP, our role will always be limited to the maintenance of peace and order)," Fajardo said.

According to Fajardo, the police organization would deploy personnel to secure the conduct of possible protest actions related to Duterte's impeachment.

"Kapag may magsasagawa ng mga protest and rally anywhere in the Philippines po ay magpro-provide po ang PNP ng appropriate security coverage to make sure po na magiging maayos at mapayapa po 'yung mga posibleng mangyari pong pagkilos with respect sa impeachment ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo," she added.

(When protests and rallies are held anywhere in the Philippines, the PNP will provide appropriate security coverage to make sure that the possible protest actions with respect to the Vice President's impeachment will be peaceful and orderly.)

The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached Duterte with 215 congressmen endorsing the verified complaint, which has been transmitted to the Senate for her impeachment trial.

According to the complaint approved by the House plenary, the complainants moved to impeach Sara "based on the grounds of Culpable Violation of the Constitution, Betrayal of Public Trust, Graft and Corruption, and Other High Crimes."

The Vice President's brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, had warned that the Marcos administration is heading towards a "greater storm" following the move to oust Sara.

"This administration is treading on dangerous ground. If they were unfazed by the over one million rallying supporters of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), then they are blindly marching toward an even greater storm—one that could shake the very foundation of their rule," he said.

Paolo was referring to the INC rally held last January 13, wherein its organizers expressed opposition to impeachment moves in Congress.

The Vice President earlier welcomed the filing of impeachment complaints against her, saying it would give her an opportunity to clear her name. — VDV, GMA Integrated News