LEADERS of the House of Representatives (HRep) considered the impeachment complaints that public and civil society organizations recently filed as the public’s way of demanding accountability from Vice President Sara Duterte in the wake of the hearings conducted by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
In a press briefing Tuesday, Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairperson Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog Partylist said the people’s quest for accountability became more evident with the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“Ako masasabi ko lang, siguro nitong paghahain ng impeachment complaint ng mga civil society groups ay isa lamang pagpapatunay na ang taumbayan mismo ay naghahanap ng accountability sa kanilang mga halal na pinuno lalo-lalong na sa kasong ito sa Bise Presidente. And siguro naman ito’y pagpapakita lang ng mga issue na nailahad duon sa mga iba’t ibang pagdinig dito sa Kongreso, lalung-lalo na sa Blue Ribbon ng House,” Acidre said.
As elected representatives of the people, he said lawmakers have the constitutional mandate to act on all impeachment complaints filed with the House.
He declined to give a specific timeframe for the impeachment, citing that the filing is simply the start of the proceedings, which involve the HRep and the Senate, and whether the latter is willing to give time to hear the matter.
“This is not to give excuses. Definitely, we are all for accountability. But then again, katulad ng sinabi ng ating Pangulo, ang mahalaga din dito ay hindi tayo ma-distract sa iba pang mahahalagang gawain ng inyong Kongreso,” Acidre said.
While he believed that impeachment is the way erring elected officials are held to account, Acidre emphasized that the impeachment court is the Senate.
“Hindi po kami ang magko-convict, remember? Mayroon pa hong trial sa Senado. I think it’s the proper venue, especially for the allegations na nakita namin doon sa mga naunang pagdinig,” Acidre pointed out.
He took note of the market’s positive outlook on the economy despite the political developments.
“Ito po’y nagpapakita na matatag ang ating demokrasya. Pansin niyo kahapon nung nag-file po ng impeachment, medyo positive po ang merkado. Positive ang stock market. Bakit? Siguro ay nararamdaman ng taumbayan na ang kanilang gobyerno, sa pangunguna ng ating Pangulo is concerned with the everyday concerns ng ating taumbayan. But at the same time, intent with exacting accountability. Maybe not the executive, specifically but the government in totality,” he said.
Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairperson Rep. Geraldine Roman of Bataan assured that the processes and deliberations on the impeachment complaint will be transparent, and due process will be followed
“Papakinggan natin lahat ng panig. Due process will be followed and this is in accordance with what we have been fighting for for the longest time. This is about the rule of law. We want to send a clear message to everyone. Kami po na gumagawa ng mga batas. Siyempre, kailangan namin i-uphold ang rule of law. Batas lamang po walang sinu-sino. Dapat lahat pantay-pantay,” Roman said.
She said Congress is duty-bound to act on am impeachment complaint.
“Is it correct in form and in substance? Substantiated ba yung mga claims? Meron bang ebidensya? And of course, I want to be fair. The entire process I hope and I’m sure and I’m confident will be transparent. So kung ano man na nadi-discover, natutuklasan, siyempre kailangan depensahan iyan ng mga nagpu-push ng impeachment case na ito.”
Roman also said nobody can stop representatives and civil society organizations from filing impeachment complaints.
“Karapatan nila iyon. At kami naman, katungkulan namin sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas na tanggapin at i-process. So let’s just see what’s going to happen with these complaints,” she said.
Acidre said the Makabayan lawmakers have already said that they will file a complaint.
“We anticipate na baka meron pang iba na magpa-file. Ito indikasyon lang ho na lahat po nakikita ang ginagawa ng Kongreso. Lahat naman din, dito nagsimula dahil sa mga pagdinig natin sa Kongreso. At marahil ito rin ang tamang venue para mapag-usapan na with finality ang mga isyung ito,” he said.
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