The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco performed its constitutional duty when it referred to the House Committee on Justice today the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court (SC) Justice Marvic Leonen.
Before the referral of the impeachment complaint to the Justice Committee, I presided the House Committee on Rules’ regular meeting this afternoon where members overwhelmingly adopted the motion of Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda to include the matter in the Calendar of Business.
Under Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, “the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.”
The same section of the constitutional provision mandates the House to act on a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof.
The impeachment complaint filed by private citizen Edwin Cordevilla, secretary general of Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government, was properly endorsed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba in accordance with that constitutional provision.
The ball is now in the hands of the House Committee on Justice, ably chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso III who had served as Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA).
The Constitution and the House Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings are clear on the timetable for acting on such complaint. The Committee on Justice, after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House within 60 session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution.
We believe that the Chairman and Members of the House of Committee on Justice will act judiciously on the impeachment complaint based on constitutional grounds and in accordance with established rules and practices.
(Press Release)
