Aquino impeach raps up before House panel

House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The justice committee of the House of Representatives is set to tackle the sufficiency in form of the three impeachment complaints filed against President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday.

In attendance for the hearing are former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes, and other militant groups.

The first two complaints are about Aquino’s use of the funds under the Disbursement Acceleration Program, parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The third is over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which seeks 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 Neri 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 complaint accused Aquino of sustaining the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the 2014 budget. The high court 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.

Ridon said he was confident the impeachment complaints were sufficient in form and substance and would stand a chance in the lower chamber despite being dominated by presidential allies.

“This morning, the Justice Committee will vote on whether the three complaints against Aquino are sufficient in form. The House Rules on Impeachment only require that the complaint, if initiated by a Filipino citizen, must be verified and endorsed by a member of Congress. All three complaints have complied with said requirements,” Ridon said in a statement on Tuesday.