House prosecutors mull revising impeachment rules after SC ruling

Members of the House prosecution panel have said the impeachment rules of the House of Representatives are expected to be revised following the Supreme Court’s recent decision, with lawmakers committing to comply with the ruling while carefully safeguarding the chamber’s constitutional prerogatives.

Manila 3^rd District Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House Panel of Prosecutors and the House Committee on Justice, said discussions are underway on how best to amend the impeachment rules in line with the High Court’s decision.

“As a Member of the House Prosecution Team and of the House Committee on Justice, I will confer with my colleagues on how best to revise the Rules on Impeachment as we deem fit and in ways that comply with the Supreme Court decision,” Chua said.

He said the process would include consultations with complainants, noting that some of them are now members of the House. “We will receive inputs from the complainants, some of whom are now Members of the House.”

Chua also said changes in the composition of the House prosecution team remain possible. While expressing disagreement with the High Court’s ruling, the lawmaker said he would abide by it, citing his duty as a lawyer and officer of the court.

“While I do not agree with the Supreme Court decision, we will abide by it because as a lawyer, I am an officer of the court and swore to respect and uphold our system anchored on the rule of law,” he said.

Chua clarified that his statement reflected his personal position and not that of the entire House or the prosecution panel.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jonathan Keith  Flores, vice chair of the Committee on Justice and also a member of the House Panel of Prosecutors, said the House would heed the Supreme Court’s ruling while exploring ways to preserve its role as a co-equal branch of government.

“The House of Representatives will heed the Supreme Court as the final arbiter on constitutional and legal matters,” Flores said.

He said there remains room for the House to meet the requirements laid down by the High Court while maintaining its constitutional authority over impeachment proceedings.

“There still might be some elbow room on how the House can reflect the due process requirements stated in the SC decision but still upholding the constitutional prerogatives and authority of the House on impeachment matters,” said Flores, also a lawyer.

Flores stressed that revisions to the impeachment rules must be crafted with care. “The new House Rules on Impeachment must be carefully worded,” he said, adding that lawmakers would study the ruling in detail, including the separate opinions, before undertaking any amendments.

“I fully understand the intent of the Supreme Court on infusing due process into the impeachment process. We will read the decision and separate opinions in their minute details. We will then work out the precise statutory construction necessary to revise the impeachment rules,” Flores said.

“We were prepared for this,” he added.