MALACAÑANG yesterday brushed aside  talks about the so “Plan B” even as it backed lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona to mount information campaigns in their respective districts to explain why the magistrate should be ousted.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the information campaign is not a “Plan B” for a “People Power” in case Corona is acquitted by the Senate.

“I don’t think it is meant for a People Power. It is not something we are planning to do,” Lacierda added.

You cannot remove the Chief Justice by publicity. The Senate Impeachment Court will render a decision on the matter. I don’t know where Senator Tatad got this plan B.” said Lacierda, referring to former Senator Francisco Tatad’s warning about a “Plan B” in case the impeachment court is not able to convict and oust Corona.

On the information drive by solons, Lacierda said: “This is a free country. This might be a way to reach out to citizens who don’t have access to television and radio,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda also said that the information drive was prompted by the lackluster performance of the prosecution.

Neither, he added, would the information campaign influence or put pressure on the senators to convict Corona.

Lacierda also praised former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada for supporting President Aquino in his crusade against Corona.

“We thank former President Estrada for supporting and his statement that he admires President Aquino. Again, this is not a fight against the institution; this is a fight against Chief Justice Corona. And if, in the process, we are able to come out with the reforms in the judiciary, then that should be welcomed by the Filipino people. We are not after encroaching on the powers of any other branch. We respect that. What we are after is transparency; what we are after is accountability as well in the judiciary,” Lacierda said.

Also yesterday, the 188 members of House of Representatives who signed the complaint against Corona, who call themselves “Movement 188”, accused the defense of using the rules and filing motions in the impeachment court to prevent the public from knowing the truth.