Courtesy: Office Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña
AKBAYAN Rep. Perci Cendaña today submitted a motion to intervene at the Supreme Court — a motion asking the high court to dismiss Vice President Sara Duterte’s petition, which challenges the constitutionality of the impeachment complaint.
“Minabuti nating mag-file ng motion for intervention dahil malapit nang magsimula ang session ng 20th Congress. Naniniwala tayong sa Senado ang tamang venue para litisin ang impeachment complaint ni VP Sara — hindi sa Supreme Court. Kung dinidinig ng mataas na korte ang petition ng VP, dapat mas dinggin nila ang sambayanan,” he said.
Rep. Cendaña further explained: “The Vice President’s petition is legally unsound. Ang reklamo nila, na-violate raw ang one-year ban on initiating impeachment complaints. Apat ang impeachment complaints na na-file, pero isa lang doon ang initiated, at yun ang verified complaint na ipinasa ng more than 1/3 ng House members.”
“The first three impeachment complaints filed were not referred to the Committee on Justice. Thus, they do not qualify as initiated complaints. Only the fourth complaint qualifies as such. Therefore, lahat ng ginawa sa House ay ayon Rules of Impeachment na nakabatay sa Saligang Batas,” he added.
In the landmark case of Francisco v. House of Representatives, the Supreme Court established that an impeachment complaint is initiated either by: (1) the act of filing a complaint and its referral or endorsement of the complaint to the House Committee on Justice, or (2) the filing by at least 1/3 of the members of the House of Representatives of a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment.
Rep. Cendana emphasized the Supreme Court’s role in ensuring accountability of public officials and that the public will view the high court’s decision as either upholding the constitution or shielding the Vice President.
“Ang tanong lang naman ng taumbayan ay: will the Supreme Court uphold the Constitution and its doctrines? Or will it save Sara and other government officials who abuse power? Nagbabantay ang taumbayan,” Rep. Cendaña stressed.
