Manases Carpio
THE House Committee on Justice on Wednesday formally closed ranks behind four of its members named in the criminal complaint filed by lawyer Manases Carpio, with Manila Rep. Joel Chua moving that the panel adopt a collective manifestation of support for Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, and Akbayan Reps. Perci Cendaña and Chel Diokno.
“I would like to make a manifestation of support to the four members of this committee. Alam po ninyo meron po tayong tinatawag na immunity, parliamentary immunity sa atin pong Saligang Batas. Ito po ay ginagawa laman po ng mga kasama natin ang kanilang tungkulin,” Chua said.
“With that manifestation Madam Chair, I move that we adopt this manifestation as a common sentiment of all the members of the committee, this manifestation of support. I so move Madam Chair,” Chua added.
The motion, seconded by Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union, was then approved without objection, turning what began as a personal expression of support into the formal position of the entire committee.
“There is a motion to adopt the manifestation of support of the Honorable Chua as manifestation of the entire committee. The same has been seconded by the Honorable D.S. Paulo Ortega. Is there any objection? Hearing none the motion is approved,” Luistro announced.
“Let it be placed on the record that the manifestation of support is expressed by the entire Justice Committee for the four respondents in the criminal complaint filed by Attorney Manases Carpio,” Luistro added.
The exchange came as the panel resumed proceedings amid mounting legal and political pressure from the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte, whose husband has gone after some committee members following the release and discussion of AMLC-related records in the impeachment inquiry.
Cendaña, one of those named, said the complaint was a desperate effort to intimidate the committee after the discovery of what he described as alarming financial records.
“Nais ko pong bigyan diin, Madam Chair, ‘yung desperadong attempt ni VP Sara at ng kanyang asawa para intimidate tayo dito sa Committee on Justice at ang mga miyembro nito,” Cendaña said.
“Kaya lang po parang may favoritism si Atty. Manases Carpio, dahil iilan lang po tayo na mga binanggit niya sa kanyang kaso at hayaan ninyo pong bigyan ko ng shoutout ang mga classmate ko sa kasong ito. COJ Chairperson, Rep. Gerville Luistro, Rep. Leila De Lima, at Rep. Chel Diokno,” Cendaña added.
He then turned the attack back on Duterte’s camp, arguing that the real issue is not the filing of the complaint but the records that surfaced before the committee and the scale of the money discussed there.
“Ang masasabi lang po natin diyan, manalamin po sila para makita nila kung sino talaga ang totoo nagkasala sa batas, lumabag sa batas at nagkasala sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Cendaña said.
Diokno, also named in the complaint, said the panel’s actions were plainly legal and anchored on both the Constitution and the House impeachment rules, making the case against them little more than a diversion.
“Sabi daw ay nilabag daw namin ang Anti-Money Laundering Act, ang Bank Secrecy Law at ang Data Privacy Act. Of course, kinikilala po natin na kung sino man ay pwedeng maghain ng kaso, karapatan naman nila ‘yun. Pero kailangan natin bigyang diin ito. Ang ginagawa lang po namin, ang ginagawa ng buong komite ay ang aming tungkulin sa ilalim ng konstitusyon,” Diokno said.
“Wala po kaming nilabag na batas, puro legal ang ginawa po namin. Kaya po mismo sa konstitusyon nakalagay, and I quote, ‘…no member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof,’” Diokno added.
De Lima, for her part, said the complaint was only the latest in a chain of legal maneuvers meant to distract the committee and derail what she described as an imperative constitutional duty.
“Malinaw po ang agenda dito sa pagsampa na naman ng kaso na yan sa Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Pagkatapos na nagsampa sila ng tatlo o apat na petisyon before the Supreme Court and then meron din kaso before the Regional Trial Court. So ito na naman, criminal case. Ito po ay panglilihis sa issue,” De Lima said.
“Ang akala nila matitinag tayo. Ang akala nila ay hindi na natin itutuloy itong ginagawa natin which is an imperative constitutional duty,” De Lima added.
Even Kabataan Rep. Renee Co, who said she was not among the respondents, joined the show of support and described the complaint as a desperate attempt to create one last diversion before the committee reaches the probable cause stage.
“Despite the fact that hindi po ako respondent doon sa case, nonetheless, I like to also manifest my support sa actions ng komite na ito and syempre pag criticized din don sa mga naging developments in the past few days,” Co said.
