PNoy ready to face impeachment over Revilla meeting

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is unfazed by those who threatened to  file an impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino III over his meeting with Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. during the Corona impeachment trial.

At a televised press briefing, Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma said the move to impeach the President may be started by the members of the House of Representatives, but the President is prepared for it.

"Sa marami na pong pagkakataon ay tinanong ninyo sa ating Pangulo, tinanong ninyo ang ating Pangulo hinggil sa posibilidad ng impeachment," Coloma said. "At palagay ko po ay presko pa sa inyong pag-alala na sa bawat pagkakataon din, ang palaging sinasagot ng Pangulo ay handa naman siyang harapin kung ito man ay ihahain ng mga miyembro ng Kongreso."

Revilla had claimed in a privilege speech that he met with the President at the height of the Corona trial in 2012. He said Aquino personally asked him to vote for the conviction of the former Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Aquino had confirmed that he met with Revilla and other senators as well, but only to verify reports that they are being pressured by some groups to influence the outcome of the trial.

Read: PNoy confirms meeting with Jinggoy, other senators during Corona trial

Revilla's lawyer reportedly said Aquino's alleged actions may be grounds for impeachment.

At least one legal expert, meanwhile, said the President should have not met with Revilla since the senators were acting as judges during the trial.

"'Yun nga lang pong kumatok kayo doon sa kuwarto ng hukom nang wala yung kasama ninyo na kalaban na abogado, may ano ho 'yan eh, parang sense of impropriety sa harap ng ibang tao," said Atty. Soledad Mawis, Dean of the Lyceum University of the Philippines College of Law, in an interview on ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

Read: Lawyer: PNoy-Revilla meeting during Corona trial improper

But both Malacañang and Senator Miram Defensor-Santiago see nothing wrong in the meeting between Aquino and Revilla, pointing out that the impeachment trial was a political process.

"Sa amin pong assessment, wala pong impropriety sa bagay na iyon," Coloma said at the Palace press briefing.

Meanwhile, Santiago said it was legal for the President to attempt to influence the outcome of the trial, but bribing the senator-judges is an impeachable offense.

Read: Miriam: It's legal for PNoy to try to influence Corona trial

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II dared Aquino's critics to pursue the impeachment complaint against the President.

"[W]hoever thinks it's an impeachable offense, then bahala silang mag-file. Kami naman on our part, we will just assess the allegation on the basis of what is provided for under our impeachment rules," Gonzales said in a press conference, a transcript of which was sent to media outfits.