MANILA: The first hearing on the impeachment bid against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (pic) will start on Feb 2, a notice of meeting from the House of Representatives’ committee on justice showed.
A notice of meeting dated Jan 28 indicated that the committee has informed complainants that the first hearing would be on Feb 2 at the People’s Center — the building in the Batasang Pambansa complex where quad committee hearings used to be held.
Part of the agenda is the initial consideration of two verified complaints — the one filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay, and the second rap from Makabayan Coalition, endorsed by ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co.
The copy of the notice shared was addressed to Elago, and was signed by committee on justice chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro.
“Before we actually start the process before the Justice Committee, consolidation must be done, because two complaints are not possible to be heard in the Justice Committee. Upon referral, the complaints must already be consolidated,” Luistro said in an ambush interview.
So we will be doing that during our initial hearing. They will be consolidated during our first ever hearing,” she added.
However, there have been claims from several lawmakers that this impeachment complaint is weak. According to Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, the complaint from de Jesus “can easily be dismissed” due to it lacking in form and substance.
Erice said only one of the six grounds mentioned by de Jesus — the issue on unprogrammed appropriations and its role in the infrastructure corruption scandal — merits a second look.
Concerns prompted Makabayan to file its own complaint, which focused on the existence of the “BBM Parametric Formula” — a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) policy that stands for “Baselined-Balanced-Managed.”
The formula also makes use of the president’s initials when using his nickname, Bongbong.
According to Makabayan, the BBM Parametric Formula “provided the justification for Presidential and Congressional infrastructure project allocations in the national budget” that was supposedly the “basis for kickbacks or commitments.”
On Tuesday, Luistro said the committee on justice will remain independent, and that members will be impartial and would not be swayed by public pronouncements or political pressure.
She added that the panel can tackle multiple impeachment complaints at the same time, as Makabayan had already signified its intention to refile an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
