“Our democratic institutions, especially the Senate, must show that we can operate justly without succumbing to intimidation and pressure”.

Sen. Bam Aquino issued this challenge to fellow lawmakers amid plans by the House leadership to file impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo.

 “Democratic institutions must stand up and fight for our freedom and democracy while we still enjoy it”,” said Sen. Bam, the deputy minority leader in the Upper Chamber.

According to Sen. Bam, the impeachment complaint may reach the Senate if the House leadership “will bully and threaten the Congressmen, like what happened in the death penalty vote”.

 “But I have faith that my fellow legislators can still stand up to pressure that may be put on them and act fairly on the matter,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Clearly, this reaction from leaders of this administration is coming from the obsessive need to curb dissent or disagreement,” he added.

Earlier, the Liberal Party, to which Sen. Bam belongs, described as “baseless and orchestrated lies” accusations linking Vice President Robredo to moves to undermine the administration.

The LP stressed that Robredo is not and will not be part of any destabilization moves. The party added that President Duterte himself declared that Robredo had nothing to do with destabilization efforts against him.