House leaders on Thursday defended the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, rejecting claims that the move was premature and brushing off criticisms from some senators, including Senator Imee Marcos and Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
According to the report of RH Milky Rigonan, House Impeachment Prosecutor and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, House Deputy Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong expressed deep concern over the Senate's decision to archive the complaint, even as a motion for reconsideration remains pending before the Supreme Court.
Chua countered Marcoleta’s statement that the Articles of Impeachment were “hilaw” or raw.
“Ano ang dahilan kung paano niya nasasabi na hilaw ito? Ito ay pinagbotohan ng more than one-third na mga miyembro,” Chua said in a press conference.
“Nirerespeto po natin ‘yung dati po nating kasama pero sa amin pong paniniwala lahat naman ng mga steps para mai-file ang impeachment ay sinunod po nmain alinsunod sa Francisco at Gutierrez ruling. At base rin po sa house rules at base rin po sa ating Saligang Batas,” he added.
Meanwhile, for Adiong, the complaint is more than ripe.
“Sa akin hinog na hinog. Sa 200 plus na pumirma para sa amin hinog na hinog,” said Adiong.
Chua stressed that the issue should not be diverted to political maneuvering or attacks on House leadership.
“Let’s not deflect from the real issue here, which is accountability—not the leadership of the Lower House,” he said.
“DEDMA”
Adiong responded to Senator Marcos’ remarks, suggesting that Speaker Martin Romualdez should be replaced by saying the House refuses to stoop to personal attacks.
“The House decides as a whole, our decision is based on what the speaker has delivered. We delivered a hundred percent of led priorities. He's inclusive, he listens to all concerns, and he actually inspires us to work harder as Representatives, so that is the basis why all of us voted Speaker Martin Romualdez to be, to remain in the speakership in this 20th Congress,” Adiong noted.
Borrowing a phrase often used by Senator Marcos herself, Adiong added, “to make patol is human, to dedma is divine. So dedma na lang kami.”
“Speaker Martin Romualdez delivered, and we will continue to support him,” Adiong noted.
Chua, meanwhile, emphasized that the selection of the Speaker is an internal matter within the Lower House and has already been settled through a unanimous vote affirming Speaker Martin Romualdez’s leadership.
“Hindi po si speaker ang isyu dito ang isyu po dito ay accountability. Sa amin pong paniniwala ito po siguro muna ang maresolba,” he addressed.
He also reminded senators to maintain proper decorum in plenary sessions and to avoid personal attacks.
'Hindi pa tapos ang laban'
Both Chua and Adiong reiterated that the power to initiate an impeachment complaint lies solely with the House of Representatives, and they urged the Senate and the Supreme Court to uphold constitutional processes.
Despite the Senate’s move to archive the complaint, Chua said the House remains hopeful that the Supreme Court will grant their motion for reconsideration.
“Hindi pa po tapos ang laban patuloy pa rin na umaasa na mabibigyan ng due process ang hindi lamang po dahil ang nadinig ng due process dito ay ang taumbayan,” Chua said.
Adiong echoed that sentiment, calling the Senate’s swift action "disappointing" but not surprising.
“It came not as a surprise para po sa sakin considering political alignment as in the Senate, but there was a revelation to some degree disappointing,” Adiong said.
“It was expected, but it also revealed the intention that the impeachment complaints would definitely probably shelf off and clamor for accountability, is the victim of these actions that we have seen yesterday at the Senate,” he added.
"Hintayin muna po natin ang resulta ng Motion for Reconsideration. Hindi pa po tapos ang laban," Adiong said.
On August 7, the Senate opened its session with a move to archive the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.
