By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On Saturday (Dec. 9), two lawmakers reaffirmed the constitutional obligation of the House of Representatives to act on the two impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“We have the constitutional duty, and we’re bound by that mandate to act on all impeachment complaints filed with the House,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairperson, declared.
Likewise, Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairperson, acknowledged the mandate that Congress must uphold.
“From a purely constitutional point of view, bahagi po ito ng aming mandato sa Kongreso. Kung meron hong nag-file ng impeachment complaint, we have no choice but to process this complaint,” Roman said.
In an earlier statement, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. encouraged his allies to discard plans for an impeachment complaint against Duterte, asserting that it would only do more harm than good for Filipino citizens and the Congress.
Despite this, civil society and religious leaders and the Makabayan bloc filed a separate impeachment complaint accusing Duterte of culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes, which Acidre described as proof of the public’s demand for accountability.
“Siguro itong paghahain ng impeachment complaint ng mga civil society groups ay isa lamang pagpapatunay na ang taong-bayan mismo ay naghahanap ng accountability sa kanilang mga halal na pinuno, lalong-lalo na sa kasong ito ng Bise Presidente,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roman assured the public that the impeachment process would be conducted transparently and in line with the rule of law.
“Lahat ng dapat, what we have to take in mind, for example, the questions of whether it is correct in form and in substance and siyempre papakinggan natin lahat ng panig. Due process will be followed,” the Bataan Representative declared.
The complaint must be referred to the plenary within 10 session days, after which the House Justice Committee will determine if it has sufficient form and substance to proceed.
“This will be a careful balancing act on the part of the leadership and the part of the House,” Acidre noted. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)
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