One of the Makabayan Bloc Representative Neri Colmenares (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines – In September 2014, the House Committee on Justice junked the 3 impeachment complaints that was filed against President Benigno Aquino III.
The committee said the complaint saying the President violated the law and betrayed the trust of the people has no substance. The Makabayan bloc, however, insisted that the issue is not yet finished.
Makabayan congressmen want to revive the complaint.
Based on the rules, the committee report should have been approved by the plenary to have it permanently junked. But if congress gets 1/3 votes on the impeachment complaint it will overturn the decision of the committee.
“Congressman Tupas has not yet submitted that to the floor. If he submits the impeachment case to the floor, yung last years impeachment,and there is [sic] 97 votes to impeach, then the President is impeached because we just need 1/3,” Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said.
The congressman admits that they don’t have the numbers to impeach the President. Their basis now to convince their colleagues is the BOI and Senate report on Mamasapano incident.
“Definitely may basis na for culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust. And they cannot say that even if there is a violation, the President is not culpable, because we are talking about at least 68 lives that were lost,” ACT Teachers Party-list Rep.Antonio Tinio said.
“Magkaalaman na lang tayo kung ilan ang boto namin at ninyo, ( Let’s just find out how many our votes are and yours)”,” Colmenares added.
Malacañang, on the other hand said, they leave the decision on this matter to the congress.
“Obviously we do not think so, perhaps at this point it would be more important for them to look at Congress to see how its leaders feel about any moves to impeach the President, but as far as the Executive is concerned, of course we do not agree,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said. (Grace Casin / UNTV News)