IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT AGAINST PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE JUNKED
The House committee on justice declared yesterday there was insufficient substance to proceed with the impeachment complaint, which had accused the President of crimes against humanity for the thousands of people who have died in the government war against illegal drugs. The dismissal of the complaint, which was filed in March, bars any new impeachment case against Duterte until next March. Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, who filed the complaint, failed to convince the committee on justice that he had personal knowledge about the crimes allegedly committed by the President.
Members of the House committee on justice yesterday killed an impeachment complaint accusing President Rodrigo Duterte of crimes against humanity for the thousands of people who have died in his anti-drug crackdown.
The committee, which is dominated by Duterte allies, declared Monday that there was insufficient substance to proceed.
The dismissal of the impeachment complaint, filed in March, bars any new impeachment case against Duterte until next March.
The President’s critics hope the procedure could bolster a lawsuit against him before the International Criminal Court for alleged extrajudicial killings by showing that domestic efforts to stop Duterte have failed.
Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano, who filed the complaint, failed to convince the committee on justice that he had personal knowledge about the crimes allegedly committed by the President.
Of the 42 committee members, 41 approved the complaint’s form of substance. But all 42 said it was insufficient in substance.
The rules on impeachment dictate that a verified complaint shall be sufficient both in form and substance before it can be voted upon by the plenary.
Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, who grilled Alejano, noted that the complaint was not based on Alejano’s personal knowledge but from news reports and “hearsays.”
“Makikita po lahat dito sa footnote galing lahat sa newspaper at editorial. (The footnotes show that these were culled from newspaper reports.) Newspaper reports are not authentic records. Clearly, you do not have personal knowledge,” Fariñas said.
Alejano’s complaint said Duterte culpably violated the Constitution, engaged in bribery, betrayed public trust, committed graft and corruption, and committed other high crimes.
While Alejano said that he has no personal knowledge in as far as being a witness to the alleged crimes of Duterte, he said he perused documents and talked to witnesses who verified his charges.
Fariñas warned that Alejano might face ethics and even perjury charges if he insists.
Alejano filed the impeachment complaint on March 16 and a supplemental complaint on March 30 this year.
On May 9, the complaint was referred to the House justice panel.