House set impeachment hearing for 7 SC justices next week
Published Aug 25, 2018 10:36 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The public can expect the Lower Chamber's impeachment hearing against the seven Supreme Court justices next week, House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said on Friday.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The chairman of the House Committee on Rules said the hearing is set on Wednesday, August 29, a day after the House plenary's referral of the impeachment complaints to the House Committee on Justice, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon.
"Yes, it will be so, " he said in a text message when asked if the Leachon panel will immediately tackle the impeachment complaints after its inclusion in the Order of Business on August 28, Tuesday for plenary referral to the House committee, previously chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.
But, Leachon said his panel can conduct the hearing "on September 3 at the earliest," saying they have to first look over the documents submitted to them.
He said after the House plenary refers the ouster complaints to his panel, they will immediately roll up their sleeves to study the records of complaints.
"Granting referral to Justice Committee on Tuesday by the Speaker at the plenary, I'll meet the Committee Secretariat and look over the documents. September 3 at the earliest," he said.
Leachon explained under the House rules, his panel "can't act without the case being referred to us in a plenary session."
He is counting on that the plenary will refer the complaints to his committee on Tuesday as earlier announced by Speaker Arroyo.
"We can't proceed Wednesday without first looking into the records of those complaints," he explained.
"On Thursday, we have no session. I'll ask the Speaker if she'll allow us even without session, which is much better. If not, Monday (Sept.3)," Leachon said.
He earlier assured that his panel "will work independently" and “will be guided by the rules on impeachment.”
On Friday, Speaker Arroyo gave the green light to expedite the impeachment process against the seven SC justices so as not to disrupt the chamber's legislative agenda including the approval of the 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget.
Within 10 session days, Arroyo has to transmit the impeachment complaints to the House Committee on Rules, chaired by Andaya.
On August 23, Thursday, members of the "Magnificent 7" bloc of the House of Representatives --Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin -- lodged impeachment complaints against Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.
The independent lawmakers accused the seven magistrates of committing culpable violation of the Constitution and betraying public trust by voting to oust former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in a controversial petition for quo warranto.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who was one of the eight justices who removed Sereno, was not included in the complaint because he is no longer an incumbent Associate Justice, Lagman said.
The complainants said that the Supreme Court decision dated May 11, 2018 which ousted Sereno by granting the quo warranto petition “is not only errant, it is also malevolent. It is not only bereft of constitutional anchorage, it is also a blatant subterfuge, an orchestrated charade.”
The complainants also alleged that “unethical ulterior motives induced Justices De Castro, Peralta and Bersamin to oust Sereno. With the removal of Sereno, a vacancy was created in the position of Chief Justice. These justices were expected to vie for said position as in fact they are.”
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The chairman of the House Committee on Rules said the hearing is set on Wednesday, August 29, a day after the House plenary's referral of the impeachment complaints to the House Committee on Justice, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon.
"Yes, it will be so, " he said in a text message when asked if the Leachon panel will immediately tackle the impeachment complaints after its inclusion in the Order of Business on August 28, Tuesday for plenary referral to the House committee, previously chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.
But, Leachon said his panel can conduct the hearing "on September 3 at the earliest," saying they have to first look over the documents submitted to them.
He said after the House plenary refers the ouster complaints to his panel, they will immediately roll up their sleeves to study the records of complaints.
"Granting referral to Justice Committee on Tuesday by the Speaker at the plenary, I'll meet the Committee Secretariat and look over the documents. September 3 at the earliest," he said.
Leachon explained under the House rules, his panel "can't act without the case being referred to us in a plenary session."
He is counting on that the plenary will refer the complaints to his committee on Tuesday as earlier announced by Speaker Arroyo.
"We can't proceed Wednesday without first looking into the records of those complaints," he explained.
"On Thursday, we have no session. I'll ask the Speaker if she'll allow us even without session, which is much better. If not, Monday (Sept.3)," Leachon said.
He earlier assured that his panel "will work independently" and “will be guided by the rules on impeachment.”
On Friday, Speaker Arroyo gave the green light to expedite the impeachment process against the seven SC justices so as not to disrupt the chamber's legislative agenda including the approval of the 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget.
Within 10 session days, Arroyo has to transmit the impeachment complaints to the House Committee on Rules, chaired by Andaya.
On August 23, Thursday, members of the "Magnificent 7" bloc of the House of Representatives --Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin -- lodged impeachment complaints against Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.
The independent lawmakers accused the seven magistrates of committing culpable violation of the Constitution and betraying public trust by voting to oust former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in a controversial petition for quo warranto.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who was one of the eight justices who removed Sereno, was not included in the complaint because he is no longer an incumbent Associate Justice, Lagman said.
The complainants said that the Supreme Court decision dated May 11, 2018 which ousted Sereno by granting the quo warranto petition “is not only errant, it is also malevolent. It is not only bereft of constitutional anchorage, it is also a blatant subterfuge, an orchestrated charade.”
The complainants also alleged that “unethical ulterior motives induced Justices De Castro, Peralta and Bersamin to oust Sereno. With the removal of Sereno, a vacancy was created in the position of Chief Justice. These justices were expected to vie for said position as in fact they are.”