The House committee on justice chaired by Rep. Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) on Tuesday terminated the deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista following the acceptance by President Rodrigo Duterte of the poll chief’s resignation “effective immediately.”
Umali said the former Comelec chairman’s resignation was good news as the committee would be able to focus on other matters involving national interest.
He thanked the President for his prompt action in accepting the resignation.
“The resignation of former Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista was good news for us in the committee on justice, House of Representatives, and the Senate because this will relieve us of the many things that we have to do,” Umali said.
“We wish to thank the President for his swift and decisive action in accepting the resignation,” Umali said.
Umali explained that for purposes of formally terminating Bautista’s impeachment bid, the committee would have to present a report to the plenary.
Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Party-list, SAGIP) said the impeachment complaint against Bautista has been mooted by the former poll chief’s resignation and the President’s acceptance of his resignation.
Rep. Doy Leachon (1st District, Oriental Mindoro) requested the lawyers of Bautista to submit a letter to the justice committee stating categorically the effective date of his resignation.
“For record purposes, may we request a categorical and definitive letter from the former Comelec Chairman stating the effective date of his resignation,” Leachon said.
Rep. Harry Roque (Party-list, KABAYAN) pointed out that the announcement of Bautista at a press conference that he was vacating his post and that he was no longer attending the meetings of the Comelec en banc indicated that the poll chief has already resigned immediately.
“There is judicial precedent for what Bautista had just done yesterday, that is, the case of (former President Joseph) Estrada. When he left the Palace, the SC (Supreme Court) ruled that that he in effect performed constructive resignation,” Roque said.
“His (Bautista) pronouncement that he was vacating his post, that he is no longer attending the en banc and that the en banc in turn will elect an acting Chair, are acts indicating that he has, for all intents and purposes, resigned immediately,” Roque said. (CONGRESS-PR)
