House panel junks impeach raps vs De Castro, other SC justices for lack of substance

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives justice committee on Tuesday shot down the consolidated impeachment complaints filed against Chief Justice Teresita de Castro and six other Supreme Court justices.

This, after the panel chaired by Rep. Doy Leachon (Oriental Mindoro) found that the impeachment complaints against the seven high court justices who voted to oust Maria Lourdes Sereno via quo warranto were insufficient in substance.

A total of 23 lawmakers in the justice committee voted that the consolidated complaints against the seven justices lack substance. Only Ramon Rocamora (Siquijor) voted that the complaint was sufficient in substance.

Last week, the committee voted that the complaints were sufficient in form.

Opposition lawmakers Reps. Edcel Lagman (Albay), Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) and Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao) accused De Castro, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo of committing culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

“As justices of the high court, they are fully aware that impeachment is the only mode provided in the Constitution to oust impeachable officials like the chief justice,” Lagman said.

Rep. Jess Manalo (ANGKLA party-list) said that lawmakers are “not in the position to judge and impeach people for deciding what they considered is right.”

Reps. Henry Oaminal (Misamis Occidental) and Ron Salo (Kabayan party-list) said the justices only performed their constitutional duty.

Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (SAGIP party-list), for his part, criticized the complainants for their supposed “opinionated, selective recital of facts.”

In his rebuttal, Lagman stressed that they are not asking the Supreme Court to reverse its decision to remove Sereno via quo warranto. He, however, insisted that the May 11 ruling was “malicious, capricious and conspiratorial.”

He also urged the members of the justice panel to “reclaim the power of the House of Representatives, which has been arrogated by the Supreme Court” when they ruled to oust Sereno through quo warranto.

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