Apostol moves to junk two other impeachment raps vs Aquino

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives justice committee junked a motion from a high-ranking Congress official to dismiss the two other impeachment complaints filed against President Benigno Aquino III.

During Tuesday’s justice committee hearing, Deputy Speaker Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol said under the impeachment rules, the committee should only tackle one impeachment complaint at a time.

He said the rules of the proceedings state that there should be a one-year ban on any other impeachment complaints after the first one.

“I moved that we dismiss.. No impeachment complaint shall be initiated against the same official more than once…” Apostol said.

“There are three impeachment complaints. The two others should not be considered. In fact it should not be admitted. It should be thrown away,” Apostol said.

One of the endorsers of the complaint, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, raised an objection, saying the committee is allowing public officials like the president to be unimpeachable.

“Wala na bang accountability ang officialls natin? … Wala nang takot ang public officials sa taumbayan,” Collmenares said.

(Don’t our officials have accountability? They are no longer scared of the public.)

Committee chair Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. junked the motions, saying the committee has ruled to tackle the three impeachment complaints in one single proceeding.The first two complaints were about Aquino’s outlawed Disbursement Acceleration Program, parts of the stimulus program declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The third is over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which seeks a greater US military presence in the country despite a constitutional ban on foreign bases.The impeachment raps were endorsed by militant lawmakers Bayan Muna Representatives Colmenares and Carlos Zarate, Anakpawis Rep Fernando Hicap, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon, Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio aand Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus.

A fourth impeachment rap accused Aquino of sustaining the outlawed Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the 2014 budget. The SC declared as unconstitutional the congressional pork at the height of a corruption scandal under the alleged scheme of Janet Lim-Napoles.

But the complaint failed to reach the floor in time for the committee referral of the first three complaints.