THE filing of impeachment against Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte was railroaded, saying “Short-cut was done,” that did not undergo the procedures.
A Makati-based Boholano Lawyer Jordan Pizarras issued this statement as he expressed his grave concern over the procedural lapses that the House of Representatives committed.
Duterte is accused by the HoR “for alleged misuse of confidential funds and her conditional threatening remarks against President Marcos, the President’ wife and HoR Speaker,” among others.
There were 215 congressmen who signed the impeachment against Sara that prompted the HoR to immediately transmit it to the Senate. The said impeachment will not be tackled until June 2, 2025, or after the mid-term elections, as the Senate adjourned last week.
For Pizarras the good process was to conduct a hearing in the HoR based on the provisions of the Constitution.
He cited the Accountability of Public Officers Xxx “2) A verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof, which shall be included in the Order of Business within ten session days, and referred to the proper Committee within three session days thereafter. The Committee, after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House within sixty session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution. The resolution shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten session days from receipt thereof.”
He cited the steps that must be followed before sending the impeachment to the Senate. These are: (1) To file Complaint for Impeachment; (2) Include (calendar) it in the Order of Business within ten days; (3) Refer it to Committee on Justice; (4) Committee to hear the impeachment; (5) Majority of the committee to submit Report for Plenary; and (6) The plenary to vote if it is worth sending it to the Senate.
But the HoR did not follow the procedure, only the number one. The number 2-6 were not observed, he said in his facebook post.
Pizarras explained that it is important to follow the procedures so as to determine the pieces of evidence as presented by the accuser. Secondly, that is to give the Vice-President an opportunity to defend herself.
And that is due process, and the rule of law, not a Kangaroo court. That’s why we can say that this is just politically motivated, Pizarras said. (Ric Obedencio)
