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Friday, March 29, 2024

Arroyo downplays impeach bid

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Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Wednesday she doubted that the impeachment complaint filed against the seven justices of the Supreme Court will succeed.

She said she welcomed the filing of the complaints against Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes Jr., Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Alexander Gesmundo, but whether it would prosper was another question.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the impeachment process against the seven justices “is an exercise in futility.”

“How can you impeach the Supreme Court justices that unseated [Chief Justice Maria Lourdes] Sereno?  They just performed their job,” Suarez said.

Arroyo earlier ordered the House committee on justice, led by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon, to dispose of the complaint soonest to ensure that the impeachment process would not hamper the House’s legislative mill.

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“The most important thing is to expedite it one way or another so that it does not disturb the legislative agenda,” Arroyo said earlier.

The House in plenary session Monday referred to the impeachment complaints against the justices by opposition Reps. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Gary Alejano of the Magdalo Party-list, Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao and Tom Villarin of the Akbayan Party-list.

They charged the seven justices with violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over their roles in the ouster of Sereno through the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

The justice committee expressed readiness to conduct marathon hearings beginning Sept. 4 on the impeachment complaint against the seven justices of the high court, including newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita de Castro.

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