The House Committee on Justice has dismissed the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Forty-two (42) committee members voted to reject the complaint.
They declared that Alejano’s case against the Chief Executive is “insufficient in substance.”
The lawmakers came to the decision following an executive session at noon time on Monday.
The committee being chaired by Representative Reynaldo Umali will now prepare a report for the plenary.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas zeroed in on the fact that Alejano does not have personal knowledge on the alleged extrajudicial killings that are included in the charges against the President.
In response, Alejano accused the committee of railroading his impeachment complaint.
He said the legislators did not follow the rules of procedure in tackling the case.
He said the determination on whether or not his complaint has substance should be held on another hearing, and that this morning’s hearing should only be about the resolution on whether or not his case is sufficient in form.
The lawmakers declared the complaint to be sufficient in form, but they also proceeded to immediately issue their verdict on the matter of substance.