A House official has said the record high +43 percent net satisfaction rating posted by the House of Representatives since 1988 as shown by latest Social Weather Stations proved the people support the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the survey result was an indication that the House committee on justice, headed by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, has exercised fairness and objectivity in conducting the impeachment proceedings against the chief magistrate.
“The people approve our fair and objective Sereno impeachment hearings,” said Fariñas in response to the House’s +43 in the SWS survey which was conducted from Dec. 8 to 16, 2017 among government institutions. The Senate got +56 net satisfaction rating.
The SWS said the +43 net satisfaction rating obtained by the Lower House was +9 higher than its rating obtained last September and the highest since 1988.
Fariñas said the survey result also affirmed the people’s appreciation of its hard work, reforms and discipline that have been instituted by the House leadership under the stewardship of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Alvarez earlier implemented a stricter policy on quorum during session days where House members will be marked absent should they fail to get to the session hall at exactly 4 p.m. or before the singing of national anthem.
Alvarez’s leadership also effected the “no travel” policy among lawmakers during session days.
“The House also respected the preventive suspension orders of its members issued by the Sandiganbayan and stood pat on its power to issue contempt orders against those not honoring its subpoenas,” said Fariñas.
The House justice panel will resume its Sereno impeachment proceedings when Congress resumes sessions on January 15.
The committee targets to wrap up its proceedings and have come up with an articles of impeachment for submission to the Senate– which shall then act as an impeachment court– in February.