Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice argued that the House Committee on Justice committed a grave abuse of discretion by junking the impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., particularly the second one filed by the Makabayan bloc, which he believes was substantiated.
Erice first explained during an interview on Balansyado that determining whether an impeachment complaint is sufficient in substance entails the recital of facts or allegations and whether these amount to impeachable offenses.
He clarified that this stage does not include the investigation to prove whether the allegations are factual or fictitious.
Once the allegations are made clear, and these are deemed impeachable offenses, the impeachment complaint must be declared sufficient in substance, Erice said.
“‘Yun ‘yung rules ng impeachment, ng sa House, hindi nila sinunod ‘to… Gumawa sila ng ibang pamantayan na hindi authorized at lumalabag sa mismong rules ng House of Representatives,” he said.
“Maliwanag naman sa akin na mayroong substance, kaya lang, pinatay na nila. Sinasabi nila, ‘Wala, mahina, mahina.’ Kung mahina, bakit hindi nila hinayaang lumabas ‘yung katotohanan o lumabas ‘yung mga ebidensya, lumabas ‘yung mga testimonya, tapos doon maghusga ‘yung committee,” he added.
The lawmaker said the committee should have held hearings in order to investigate the veracity of the claims made in the second impeachment complaint, which he described as legally sound.
“Kung totoo ‘yung sinasabi nila o hindi, dapat patunayan nila sa pamamagitan ng mga hearings na dapat ginawa ng Committee on Justice,” he said.
Erice pointed out that this was also detrimental to the President’s reputation, as the probe would have been a chance to clear his name. At present, the accusations against him remain undisputed.
“Hindi rin ‘yan pabor sa Pangulo. Bakit? Kasi ‘yung mga akusasyon sa kanya, hindi rin nasagot,” he reasoned.
The congressman asserted that the same process should be repeated for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment complaints.
“Magkakaroon ng impeachment complaint kay VP Sara. Di dapat, kung ano ‘yung applicable kay Presidente Marcos, dapat ganoon din ‘yung application kay VP Sara,” he told the anchor.
He believes the reason the government never seems to reach the truth is that the Marcos administration is actively diverting attention from the Palace.
“Talagang nakikita naman natin na kaya hindi makahanap ‘yung katotohanan, ‘yung administrasyon mismo ang ayaw hanapin ‘yung katotohanan. Nakikita natin, gaya ng ICI, bigla nalang nag-resign ‘yung mga commissioners, hindi alam kung ano ‘yung nangyayari. ‘Yung Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, sabi involved si ES Bersamin, pero hindi na pinatawag,” he recalled.
“Ibig sabihin, pag lumalapit na ‘yung imbestigasyon sa Malacañang, humihinto na. Tulad nitong impeachment complaint na hindi na binigyan ng pagkakataon na mag-imbestiga doon sa katotohanan,” he added.
On Tuesday, the House plenary voted 284-8-4 in favor of the Committee on Justice’s recommendation declaring both impeachment complaints against President Marcos insufficient in substance.
