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Sched tight for VP impeach process
By Nidz Godino
“Timeline will be challenging here if it goes to committee on justice… remaining nine session days is very tight….after it is referred to committee on justice, after that, there will be determination of its sufficiency in form,” Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, vice chairman of the committee on justice of the House of Representatives told reporters with only nine session days left before Christmas break, lawmakers would have to work on tight schedule to process impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Flores said they haven’t even received copies of impeachment complaints filed by Akbayan and civil society leaders and by Makabayan bloc.
He said there was no official referral yet from Office of the Speaker to committee on justice of impeachment complaints against Duterte.
“We just recently found out second impeachment complaint…there was no referral yet… has not been read before plenary yet…so, I think that is what they should do first…what I am aware of is that it has been already filed and endorsed by their members,” he said.
Flores explained in determination of substance of impeachment complaint, committee on justice would have to require respondent to file her answer within 10 days.
“So that alone is going to eat up a lot of days in remaining days of session of House,” he said.
He noted Makabayan bloc’s signature campaign for its impeachment complaint , second filed on sole basis of “betrayal of public trust.” He said bloc may have resorted to signature campaign in acknowledgment of limited time left for impeachment case to proceed.
“I think they are doing that because they are also aware of time limitations, number of days remaining where impeachment complaint that they filed can move,” Flores said.
He has not yet been asked for his signature by any member of the bloc comprising militant members of House.
“I haven’t received any request for signature nor any member of Makabayan bloc approached me to sign in effect… none of that sort, yet,” Flores said.
“I have to look at Articles of Impeachment first because I haven’t read the complaint of the Akbayan. In Makabayan’s, I know they mentioned only one ground but I don’t see the complaint yet, also,” he added.
Flores said the 10-day period for the respondent to answer complaint would include holidays. “It’s not session days… just 10 days to file their answer… includes holidays,” he pointed out.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier said his office would first wait for the filing of a third impeachment complaint before it transmits the first two complaints.we will just have one transmittal, so, we are on hold…we’re waiting,” Velasco said, claiming that other lawmakers had revealed plans to file or endorse new impeachment complaints against Duterte.
For House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, limited time left for lawmakers to act on impeachment complaints should not discourage them from proceeding with the task, as it is part of their mandate.
“We have constitutional duty, and we’re bound by that mandate to act on all impeachment complaints filed with House,”, Acidre, also chairs the committee on overseas workers affairs, said.
Acidre described filing of impeachment complaints against Duterte in defiance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s appeal to allies in Congress as proof of public’s demand for accountability.
“Filing of impeachment complaint by civil society groups is just proof that people are looking for accountability from elected officials, especially in the case of the Vice President,” he said.
Acidre pointed out that development was in sync with House’s ongoing efforts to uphold accountability.
“You were witnesses in the investigations conducted in Congress, we prioritize search for accountability, this will be careful balancing act on the part of the leadership and the part of House,” he said.
Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman is not eager to push through with impeachment proceedings, but acknowledged it’s mandate Congress should uphold.
“From my personal point of view, I’m not inclined to push for impeachment process because this is also call of the President…but from purely constitutional point of view, this is part of mandate of Congress,” Roman, committee on women and gender equality chairperson, said.
“When impeachment is filed, we have no choice but to process this complaint.”
Roman assured public that impeachment process would be conducted transparently and in line with rule of law.
“Rest assured whatever is the processing, deliberations, they will be transparent and they will follow to the letter,in everything, what we have to take in mind, for example, questions of whether it is correct in form and in substance, of course, we will listen all sides…due process will be followed,” she said.
Despite challenges, Roman underscored resolve of Congress to fulfill its constitutional duties. “Law must be followed…everyone is equal under the law,” Roman said.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall chairman of quad committee, said filing of impeachment complaints is likely to affect investigation of panel.
Barbers said committee may have to terminate its hearings on Philippine offshore and gaming operators.
But he said hearings on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and on war on drugs of previous administration will continue on Dec.12.
“Impeachment against Vice President will affect our schedules…we are thinking of terminating our hearing on POGO… we will just focus on two issues, EJKs and drugs, I don’t think there is still need to invite the former president Duterte because the 13 hours of our meeting with him in the hearing basically revealed what we want to hear from him, little more than what he revealed or what he admitted in Senate; so, for me, those are sufficient,” Barbers said.
Quad comm would also be presenting to plenary its “progress report” on its investigation on EJKs, POGOs and drugs, he said.
Barbers said quad comm wants to squeeze more information from businessman Mark Taguba and other witnesses.
Barbers said they are still finalizing list of resource people they would invite to the next hearing.
Impeachment proceedings might also affect pending key measures at the Senate, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
“In case this pushes through, this will be my first time in my political career that I will be judge, My view is, if this reaches the Senate for trial, a lot of priority measures will face delays or become second priority, because senators will focus on impeachment trial,” Gatchalian said.
“If I were a reelectionist, I would focus on campaigning to win elections instead of attending impeachment trial…that is what campaign period is for…so we should look at practical considerations here, While the impeachment can give free publicity, it is double-edged…what is important here is to study the case carefully, especially because this is political process,” Gatchalian said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, vowed to be legal luminary instead of politician if and when he sits as impeachment judge.
“To be judge is no light matter, even for lawyer like me… makes us appreciate daily work of judge in court… political process…but I will look more at the law and evidence, we are independent from House…we should not preempt them and instead just relax,” Pimentel said.
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