Belmonte: Impeach hearings vs Ombudsman to resume after SC issues decision

The House of Representatives will resume the hearings on the impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierez after the Supreme Court (SC) issues its decision on the matter. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte reiterated his stand that the chamber will wait for the decision of the High Tribunal before making any move. “We will not take it up formally as an impeachment proceeding until we have heard from the Supreme Court," he said in a press conference. He believed that by doing so they will not be abdicating their duty to perform their mandate under Article II, Section 3 (2) of the Constitution. The provision states that the Committee on Justice should submit its report on the impeachment complaint to the House within 60 session days from its referral, together with the corresponding resolution. The 60-day period started on August 10 when the two impeachment complaints separately filed by former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and several militant organizations were simultaneously referred to the justice committee. On September 1, the committee held its first hearing and declared the complaint sufficient in form. On September 7, the panel found the complaint sufficient in substance. The committee gave the Ombudsman 10 days to submit her reply to the complaints. However, instead of heeding the committee’s order, Gutierrez on September 13 asked the SC to restrain the House committee from pushing through with the impeachment proceeding because it supposedly violated the Constitution. Gutierrez also asked the court to nullify the two House resolutions saying the two impeachment complaints were sufficient in form and substance. On September 14, the court issued a status quo ante order, requiring parties in the case to observe the status quo before the House issued the two resolutions assailed by Gutierrez. Stand of other lawmakers Some lawmakers, however, are against the stand of Belmonte about resuming the impeachment proceedings only after the SC issues its decision. Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III opposed Belmonte’s stand saying he would discuss it with the House Speaker and justice committee chairman Rep. Niel Tupas. “I am sure that the chairman of the committee on justice and I would discuss the matter with the Speaker because there was a motion approved in the justice committee to proceed with the hearings on the impeachment despite the status quo ante order before the we went on a three-week break in October," he said in a text message to GMANews.TV. Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay said the Speaker should rethink his stand as it could be an abdication of his duty to defend the House as an institution and co-equal branch of the SC. "The Speaker should rethink on his stand before he drag down our institution and remove its teeth. The impeachment hearing should continue and not await the decision of the SC, otherwise, the House will no longer be a co-equal branch," she said. She noted Belmonte’s statement was contrary to the comments filed by the House that the SC injunction order was an encroachment on the powers of the chamber. Siding with Belmonte Other lawmakers, however, sided with the Speaker. In a text message to GMANews.TV, Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian said the House have to uphold the institutions that make the republic strong such as the SC. “We should not pit one branch of government against another," he said. Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV said it just proper to wait for the SC decision. “We cannot go against the SC on issues of constitutionality. The SC is the final arbiter of the same," he said. For Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr., waiting for the SC decision “is the most prudent thing to do." – VVP, GMANews.TV