Second impeach case vs President Marcos refiled today

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives along with other opposition groups will refile today the impeachment complaint against President Marcos, following the absence of the receiving official last week.

“We hope that there would be no more excuses on the part of the House in accepting the complaint and further obstructing efforts toward accountability,” party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Renee Louise Co (Kabataan) and Sarah Elago (Gabriela) said in a statement.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan president Renato Reyes said the complainants in their suit endorsed by the Makabayan bloc are taxpayers, workers, farmers, students, teachers, urban poor, professionals and anti-corruption advocates.

The three articles of impeachment in the Makabayan version focus on institutionalizing systemic corruption and patronage; abuse of discretionary power over unprogrammed appropriations, and direct personal involvement in kickback schemes.

The Makabayan-led impeachment complaint will be the second one seeking to unseat the President, after private lawyer Andre de Jesus’ suit, whose complaint is now with the Office of the Speaker.

A third complaint, initiated by former congressman Mike Defensor and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson also failed to be submitted last week due to House secretary-general Cheloy Garafil’s absence.

Garafil was in Taiwan last week to receive the “Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon,” one of Taipei’s highest civilian decorations, for her achievements during her time with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker and deputy minority leader Leila de Lima pointed out that “the legitimacy of impeachment depends not only on outcomes, but on the integrity of the process by which it is conducted.”

“Administrative inconvenience or technical excuses cannot suspend a constitutional mandate. The receipt of impeachment complaints is a ministerial act that admits of no discretion,” the ML party-list representative noted.

Rules-based

In a related development, Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong clarified that the impeachment complaint filed against Marcos was being handled in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and long-standing House rules.

He said that once an impeachment complaint is filed, the House is required to act on it through established procedures, including referral to the committee on justice for determination of sufficiency in form and substance.

“Referral to the committee on justice is a standard and substantive step in the impeachment process. It initiates formal review and does not pre-judge any outcome,” the chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms said.

The senior administration lawmaker added that constitutional provisions governing the filing and consideration of impeachment complaints apply uniformly and are intended to ensure due process and institutional stability.

With regard to Garafil’s absence, Adiong noted that she is currently on an official, pre-scheduled engagement abroad and that her temporary absence does not affect the constitutional handling of impeachment matters.

“Impeachment is a serious constitutional mechanism,” Adiong said. “The House will continue to discharge its duties in an orderly, rules-based and transparent manner.”