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Next week, VP Sara impeachment transmittal ?
By Nidz Godino
“This is about signing of Articles of Impeachment that will be submitted to Senate. ..they should declare it to plenary…we will collect signatures… voting is in plenary…it can be done before collection of signatures,” former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares said signature campaign led by Makabayan bloc is at full throttle in House of Representatives, with aim of setting into motion impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, possibly by Monday.
Bloc, comprising militant lawmakers, would have to gather signatures of at least one-third or 106 of more than 300 members of House of Representatives before these are submitted to plenary, Colmenares said.
Colmenares said they are eyeing “Villar style” of impeachment process against Duterte. He was referring to rapid procedure that led to impeachment of then president Joseph Estrada in 2000 when Manuel Villar was House speaker.
Duterte’s ally, Sen. Ronald de la Rosa, said he expected impeachment to proceed.
Colmenares said: “it is allowed that you will gather signatures, and then once completed, you present it to plenary with signatures of those 106 congressmen who will support it…hopefully, by Monday we would be able to complete 106 signatures of congressmen.”
Colmenares, who acted as prosecutor in impeachment trial of chief justice Renato Corona, said Villar managed to immediately transmit to Senate Articles of Impeachment against Estrada because signatures of one-third of House members were gathered in advance.
“Rsolution had been brought to congressmen for signing beforehand and required one-third were already there before it was presented in plenary, even if majority will say no, it can be transmitted to Senate… Constitution sees impeachment as very rare…it says let one-third decide or not because if you will allow majority to rule, it will not reach anywhere because it will be outnumbered,” Colmenares said.
He stressed process of impeachment starts with submission of impeachment complaint to the secretary general of House of Representatives.
From House secretary general, it will then be transmitted to the Speaker, who will then present it before plenary.
The Speaker may refer impeachment complaint to House committee on justice or directly transmit Article of Impeachment to Senate if signatures of one-third or total of 106 congressmen become available.
Colmenares said complaint they filed against Duterte cited only one ground “betrayal of public trust,” containing only three acts.
“This is different from Corona impeachment complaint… complaint cited eight acts and four grounds. ..that is why it reached four months before it was decided by Senate…we only cited one ground and three acts… I am confident that it will not reach one month for Senate to decide on the Vice President’s impeachment,” Colmenares said.
He also said congressmen are unlikely to have hard time going over Makabayan bloc’s impeachment complaint because all of the pieces of evidence submitted came from investigations by House itself.
“Receipts are all official. If they would want it, they can decide on it…many senators are watching committee hearings and they are very familiar with issues…they will not find it difficult, I am very optimistic… I can only speak on our complaint that was based on congressional investigation…we decided to present one ground only so that it can easily be resolved, three acts include violation of law and circular, fraudulent receipts and refusal to account and attend congressional hearings… I don’t see any reason why they will not act on it,” he pointed out.
Colmenares said it would be bad for House of Representatives as institution not to act on impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“Yes, for me politically it would be bad for Congress… I think they conducted nine hearings at the committee…they cannot just let it slip… committee can rule within 10 days, either dismiss it or approve it,” he pointed out.
Colmenares said if complaints are referred to House committee on justice, it has to choose strongest one.
“I don’t see any move to consolidate it now, ours is strong complaint,” he said.
First impeachment complaint against Duterte was filed days earlier by civil society leaders, including former senator Leila de Lima.
House secretary general Reginald Velasco is holding off transmittal of the two impeachment complaints because he is still awaiting the filing of third complaint against Duterte.
“Not yet because we were told that there are others intending to file. .., we will just have one transmittal,” Velasco said, explaining his decision to hold off transmittal of two existing complaints.
For his part, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, vice chairman of House committee on justice, said they did not receive official referral of impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.
“We just recently found out second impeachment complaint… no referral yet,” Flores said.
Dela Rosa appears resigned to possibility of the Vice President’s impeachment.
“I am expecting worst…there will be impeachment trial,” Dela Rosa said at virtual press briefing.
While he is expected to vote against impeaching Duterte, Dela Rosa vowed to be “impartial” judge in impeachment court.
“I will remain objective…impeachment is political not judicial process. ..chances are it will show your political color… I don’t want to reveal my vote now lest I be branded or stereotyped…but I will do my job,” Dela Rosa said.
While he welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s text message to lawmakers urging them not to impeach the Vice President, Dela Rosa said Marcos’ “words must be compensated with action, so that it would not be just lip service.”
He dared the President to stop what he described as longtime plan of House of Representatives under leadership of Marcos’ cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez to impeach Duterte on basis of her alleged confidential funds misuse.
“That has been their plan all along… well-planned from very beginning, to investigate her and form basis for impeachment…we are preparing for worst,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa couldn’t help but feel like Duterte camp had been “scammed” by once formidable UniTeam alliance, catapulted Marcos and Duterte to power in 2022 elections.
Team is now in shambles after the Vice President issued death threats against the President and Romualdez.
“I just feel bad that UniTeam once meant to show unity among us ended with us criticizing each other…it felt like people were scammed,” Dela Rosa said.
The 24-member Senate needs two-thirds vote to convict impeachable official, means Duterte only needs nine senators to secure acquittal.
Echoing the Vice President, Dela Rosa said current political tension between Marcos and Duterte may have reached point of no return.
Dela Rosa criticized what he described as excessive scrutiny of the Vice President, especially by House of Representatives quad committee.
“It looks like that , point of no return… really too much…even ordinary people can feel pressure on our VP,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa also pointed to what he described as “grand design” to dismantle Duterte bloc, particularly in light of ongoing investigations on confidential fund use and other allegations.
“Just imagine, from extrajudicial killings to corruption probes, it’s all moving in one direction , to pin down Duterte family, clear to us who’s behind this…we are not stupid. …we know ambitions of the Speaker of the House,” he said.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) has started security preparations for rally of Iglesia ni Cristo against impeachment of Duterte.
The religious group, in its television network NET 25, announced its members would be holding rallies in support of the President’s call against filing of impeachment complaints against Duterte.
Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, said they have security template for rallies by large groups.
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