Impeachment bid against Duterte junked

THE HOUSE justice committee has formally junked the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo R. Duterte filed by Magadalo partly-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano, after the panel unanimously approved the committee report containing their findings.

The junked complaint effectively spares Mr. Duterte from another impeachment bid for one year, in accordance with the Constitution.

Seventeen members of the committee, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali, voted to pass yesterday the report containing the resolution dismissing the complaint against the Mr. Duterte.

“By unanimous vote, the committee report on resolution dismissing the verified complaint for impeachment and supplemental complaint affidavit filed by Rep. Gary Alejano against President Rodrigo Duterte, effectively putting a one year ban on any and all impeachment complaints that may be filed against the President, is hereby approved unanimously,” Mr. Umali said during the hearing.

The 15-page report summarized the entire deliberation on the complaint last May 15, during which Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas grilled Mr. Alejano on the extent of his “personal knowledge” regarding extrajudicial killings under the present drug war and during Mr. Duterte’s long-time mayoralty.

Mr. Alejano’s verification in his complaint states that: “I/We hereby confirm and affirm that the material allegations made therein are true and correct of my/our own personal knowledge and as culled from authentic records.”

The party-list lawmaker admitted at length he had no personal knowledge on the said killings but maintained his complaint was “culled” from authentic records and even official remarks by the President, according to transcripts issued by the Palace.