With the current news of President Donald Trump facing a 2nd impeachment, I can't help but be reminded of the time in the Philippines of the same occurrence. Actually, there were on record seven presidents in the Philippines who faced impeachment charges. But granduncle Elpidio R Quirino was the first. He was charged for overspending to refurbish Malacanang Palace, the President's official residence, and trumped-up charges connecting him to diamond smuggling. Unlike President Trump's first impeachment that passed Congress, his was dismissed by the Congressional Committee that looked into it for lack of merit.
Impeachment is a way of maintaining checks and balances in a federal system of government so that no one can abuse his power or authority. But charges of impeachment must be supported by evidence of abuse or criminality. A hostile Congress can weaponize this process. Donald Trump's first impeachment was pursued because he colluded with Russia to which they found no evidence. A 2nd impeachment now claims he incited people to rebellion in a peace rally by his supporters. And even as he is no longer President, the 2nd impeachment is still being pursued as a glaring act of vengeance by his political enemies.
As in the cases in the Philippines, only President Joseph Estrada's impeachment succeeded and led to his ouster.
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