Makabayan bloc slams House panel ruling vs participation of non-members at Sereno impeach hearing

Two lawmakers belonging to the Makabayan bloc, Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. (INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO)

The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives denounced the justice committee’s decision on Wednesday to bar non-members as well as lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from participating in its impeachment proceedings.

READ: House panel votes against participation of non-members in Sereno impeach hearings

ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio asserted that all members of Congress are entitled to participate in the impeachment hearings against Sereno.

“Hindi ito ang unang impeachment na ginawa ng Congress kahit sinong member bsta interesado pinapahintulutang magtanong whether pro or against,” Tinio said.

“Pero ngayon lang nangyari sa kongresong ito na pinagbawal ang non-members ng justice committee na lumahok at mag-participate,” he added.

The lawmaker surmised that the committee members could only be afraid that they might expose the loopholes in the impeachment complaint filed against the chief magistrate by lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon.

“Bakit ginagawa yan ano ba ang kinakatukatan ng kongreso? Super majority na nga yan kita naman sa botohan, siguro kinakatakutan nila na ay baka malantad yung kahinaan at kawalang basahena ng impeachment complaint na gusto nilang iratsada,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the impeachment case is just being used to pin down personalities and institutions that oppose the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Tingin natin itong impeachment complaint ay finile para pahinain Constitution at ilagay sa alanganin ang mga institution at personalidad na di sumasang-ayon sa tindig ng kasalukuyang admin,” he said.

Likewise, Gabriela Rep. Emmie De Jesus lamented the events that transpired at the hearing.

“Yung mga ganitong ruling lalong naglalantad na anti-democratic talaga yung proseso na ginagawa dito sa Congress,” she said.

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago also accused Duterte of having a hand in the impeachment case against Sereno.

“Minamdali na ni Duterte sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kasabawat na super-majority allies sa loob ng kongreso at dalian na pag-impeach kay CJ sereno para tanggalan ng boses nago-oppose sa mg patakaaran ni Duterte,” she said.

But Mr. Duterte had already denied being behind attempts to remove Sereno from her position.

READ: Duterte tells Sereno: I’m not behind your impeachment

Sereno is being accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

The House justice committee’s hearing on Wednesday was scheduled to determine if there is probable cause to impeach the Supreme Court chief.      /kga