MANILA, Philippines—Representative Rudy Fariñas on Thursday urged the House of Representatives to file impeachment charges against eight Supreme Court justices who voted in favor of the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) for the subpoena of dollar accounts allegedly owned by Chief Justice Renato Corona.
In a press conference at the Senate, Fariñas said included in the articles of impeachment against Corona is the alleged meddling of the Supreme Court with the impeachment case that was still in the committee level of the House against former Ombudsman Merceditas Guttierez.
“The 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment case against Corona, they will have to be consistent with themselves,” Fariñas said.
When asked if he will lead the filing of impeachment charges against the eight other SC justices, Farinas said: “I will. Ako na mismo pasimuno ngayon (I will take the lead this time).”
He added he will file a resolution of impeachment which only need at least 1/3 votes (96 signatory congressmen), similar to what was filed against Corona.
When asked when he will file the resolution, Fariñas said: “As soon as I’m free, I will beg leave.”
The SC issued the TRO less than 24 hours after Philippine Saving Bank (PSBank) filed the motion barring the Senate acting as the impeachment court from summoning documents regarding the five dollar accounts allegedly owned by Corona.
The eight SC Associate Justices who voted in favor of the TRO were Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Arturo Brion, Roberto Abad, Jose Perez, Lucas Bersamin, Martin Villarama, Bienvenido Reyes and Jose Mendoza.
Fariñas is deputy lead prosecutor in the ongoing Corona impeachment trial.