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ABANDONMENT OF IMPEACH POWER IS “TREASON” AGAINST THE HOUSE

Press Statements

The leadership of the House of Representatives has committed “treason” against the Chamber when it abandoned and forfeited the constitutional power of the House to initiate impeachment proceedings in the wake of the power grab by eight Justices of the Supreme Court who removed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by granting an irregular and improvident quo warranto petition.

The articles of impeachment submitted more than a month ago by the House Committee on Justice to the Committee on Rules has not been calendared for Plenary deliberation and voting.

The House leaders, particularly Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, have unilaterally deferred to the “finality” of the 8-6 High Court decision unseating the Chief Magistrate without following the constitutionally mandated impeachment process.

The Constitution unequivocally mandates that it is only by impeachment instituted by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate can an impeachable official be removed from office.

Sections 2, 3(1) and 3(6) of Article XI pertinently provide:

“Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.”

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“Section 3(1) The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.”

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“Section (6) The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.”

The projected impeachment complaints to be filed by the Magnificent 7 opposition bloc will not only hold accountable the eight grievously errant Justices for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, but will also reclaim for the House its impeachment power.

 

EDCEL C. LAGMAN