The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) of the House of Representatives on Thursday refused to accept what would have been the second impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., filed by groups led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).
The complainants expressed dismay over the development, saying the refusal violated House rules.
The complaint was rejected on the grounds that House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil was out of the country and therefore unavailable to receive it. According to the complainants, the office’s executive director said he had no authority to formally accept the complaint in Garafil’s absence.
BAYAN President Renato Reyes Jr., Gabriela’s Liza Maza, and BAYAN Vice Chair Teddy Casiño are among the lead complainants. The group said the grounds for impeachment include betrayal of public trust and alleged systematic and large-scale plunder of public funds through presidential and congressional allocations.
They insisted that House rules clearly allow the filing of an impeachment complaint with the OSC even without the physical presence of the Secretary General herself.
The impeachment complaint is backed by 36 complainants and three endorsers from the Makabayan Bloc, including Representatives, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, saying that if the House continues to insist on its position, it would be the office itself that is violating House rules.
“Rule 2 Section 3 on rules of impeachment, clear po dito kung ano ang steps ayon sa 1987 constitution. May verified complaint, i-eendorso ng resolution of members of the House of Representatives and shall be filed at the Office of the General,” Co said in a briefing.
Co showed reporters copies of what she said were the verified impeachment complaint and the resolution endorsing it. She emphasized that the rules require filing with the office, not with a specific individual.
Meanwhile, Casiño said the group was dismayed by the refusal of the Secretary General’s office to formally receive the complaint.
“Ayaw tanggapin ng executive director ng Secretary General’s office ang complaint. Ayon sa kanya, wala siyang authority to receive the complaint,” Casiño said.
Despite the refusal, Casiño said the group left a copy of the complaint with the office and considers the filing complete.
“Nag-iwan kami ng kopya doon sa opisina, and as far as the complainants are concerned, we have complied with the rules na finile namin sa Secretary General ang aming complaint at poproblemahin na lang po ni SecGen when she arrives on Monday ang kanyang ministerial work na ito ay irefer kaagad, i-transmit sa Office ni Speaker Dy,” he added.
Rep. Tinio said the complainants and endorsers would now elevate the matter to House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy's office to ensure that the impeachment complaint is included in the House’s Order of Business.
“Para matiyak na hindi gagamitin ang mga dirty tricks, technical para gawin iyon pupunta kami ngayon sa Office of the Speaker," he said.
"Ipapaalam natin officially na ang kanyang SecGen hindi sinunod ang rules,” Tinio said.
