House Committee on Justice chairperson and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro on Monday offered a simple answer to questions on whether legislators ever get tired of dealing with impeachment complaints.
In her opening statement on Day 1 of deliberations on the cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, Luistro explained that while she understands ‘public fatigue’ over the issue, the elected representatives do not have the option to ignore the complaints.
“Constitutional duties do not expire simply because public discourse grows weary. Some have asked: Are we not tired of impeachment?… The answer my dear colleagues is simple. The Constitution does not get tired. The rule of law does not get tired. Accountability does not get tired,” she said.
Luistro’s panel recently junked the impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and are now discussing renewed bid to prosecute the vice president, who faces allegations of corruption, betrayal of public trust, among other charges.
She reminded Filipinos that under the Constitution, the House of Representatives through its Committee on Justice is mandated to take action on the impeachment complaints and this is neither optional, seasonal, or subject to fatigue.
“If an impeachment complaint is filed and referred to this committee. We must examine it. There is no option to ignore these complaints… Hindi tayo maaaring umiwas… Ang tungkulin ay hindi pinipili, ito ay ginagampanan (We cannot turn away… Duty is not ours to choose—it has to be fulfilled),” she pointed out.
