Sugar industry groups back Duterte on impeachment bid

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Sugar industry leaders strongly condemned the move of Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, who is a Negrense, to impeach President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We reiterate our commitment and support to President Duterte in the midst of this impeachment complaint filed against him,” declared the groups’ joint manifesto.

The manifesto was signed by Enrique Rojas, president of National Federation of Sugarcane Workers; Francis de la Rama, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association; Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines; and Danilo Abelita, president of the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc.

“Despite the accomplishment of  Duterte in poverty alleviation, the fight against corruption and the war against drugs, some self-serving people like Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano still dared to file an impeachment complaint against him,” they added.

Alejano filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte for alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption and other high crimes. But allies of Duterte in Congress expressed confidence that the impeachment complaint will not prosper.

Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar, who was in Bacolod City recently, welcomed the sugar industry's support for President Duterte over the impeachment move against him.

Andanar said the president has also asked his friends in Congress to layoff and stop filing a separate impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“That is an indication that the president is a man of law, and a president who respects and believes that the mandate given to them should be respected,” Andanar said. “The president does not want any form of destabilization or impeachment to be entertained.”

Andanar told Negrenses: “We should be working together as one nation so we can better deliver the services that the public needs. It looks like the people of the sugar industry understand what the president is doing. They know the sincerity of the president to make our country a prosperous one.” (FREEMAN)