Two impeachment complaints have now been formally lodged against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the House of Representatives, following House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil’s receipt on Monday morning, Jan. 26, of a 37-page complaint prepared by militant groups and former Makabayan bloc congressmen.
Physically bringing the complaint to Garafil’s office a second time were current Makabayan bloc members ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co.
“Wala nang duda dito, no? Filed and received by the Office of the Secretary General,” Tinio said.
The trio and the complainants did the same last Thursday, Jan. 22, but Garafil wasn’t there to receive the complaint. She was on an official trip to Taiwan.
It was last Monday, Jan. 19 when lawyer Andre de Jesus gained the distinction of being the first individual to ever file an impeachment complaint against President Marcos.
The next day, Garafil forwarded it the office of House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, as part of the process.
The three articles of impeachment against Marcos that were mentioned in the Makabayan-backed complaint were 1.) Institutionalizing Systemic Corruption and Patronage, 2.) Abuse of Discretionary Power over Unprogrammed Appropriations, and 3.) Direct Personal Involvement in Kickback Schemes.
Among the 36 listed complainants were former Bayan Muna Party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares, Teddy Casiño; former Gabriela Party-list Reps. Emmi de Jesus, Liza Maza; and Bayan President Renato Reyes.
After the successful filing, the complainant and endorsers’ attention immediately shifted to the potential submission of their impeachment rap to the Speaker’s office.
“Ang malinaw na nakasaad sa rules, ay the secretary general shall immediately refer to the Speaker. So ‘yun na ang inaasahan natin ngayon, natanggap niya na, immediate referral to the Speaker,” Tinio said.
“However, hindi tayo nakakuha ng definite commitment mula kay secretary general na ire-refer niya agad kay Speaker ang complaint. Di natin malaman kung bakit. Babantayan namin ito,” he said.
As per Tinio, Garafil told them that she would transmit their complaint to Dy’s office on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Since the De Jesus complaint is already with the Speaker’s office, it could potentially get referred to plenary via the Committee on Rules during Monday afternoon’s session. From the rules panel, it could then get referred to the Committee on Justice–an act that would “initiate” the impeachment proceedings against Marcos.
This is the scenario that the militants want to avoid because it will cast aside all other impeachment raps against Marcos for an entire year.
Tinio pointed out that House rules give the Speaker up to 10 session days to refer to plenary all the impeachment complaints that were sent to his office. This means that he has no reason to rush the first complaint against the President. (Ellson Quismorio)
