Opposition solons: House is a rubber stamp in Duterte’s hands

Opposition lawmakers said that the House justice committee's 25-2 vote finding sufficient grounds in the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is the Duterte administation's way of overthrowing those who oppose him.

In a statement on Thursday, ACT Teachers party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro criticized the alleged "railroading" of the committee on the impeachment complaint.

"Today’s hearing is a clear manifestation of the Duterte administration’s political arm-twisting and bullying of those who oppose him," they said.

"The House of Representatives is acting as a rubber stamp in the hands of President Duterte to do the demolition jobs," they added.

With a vote of 25-2, the House panel approved the motion of Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal's motion to find sufficiency of grounds in lawyer Larry Gadon's impeachment complaint against Sereno.

Tinio and Castro said the panel approved the motion without even discussing the grounds for impeachment.

"It is a clear scheme of railroading and the leadership intends to hasten the proceedings as a marching order of President Duterte," they said.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas shared Tinio and Castro's sentiments.

"The House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Sereno today is yet again another display of the Duterte administration’s political arm-twisting and bullying, in an apparent bid to silence further criticism," Brosas said in a statement.

"Such a dirty ploy only further exposes Duterte’s desperation to use tyrannical methods against political opposition and will further stoke more dissent against his regime," she added.

'Silencing the opposition'

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate and Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin also criticized the House panel's decision to bar non-members from speaking during the hearing.

During the hearing, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said that it would derail the proceedings if non-members like Zarate and Villarin participated.

"Ito lang po ang committee ng Congress na ni-create ng Constitution to hear impeachment complaint. Hindi pwedeng lahat ng member sasali po rito [dahil] hindi pangkaraniwang committee ito," he said.

"You can articulate on legislative measures. We are not legislating here. When it comes to legislation perhaps, but there is no right of any member to insist and allow to speak in any committee. Made-derail ang committee," he added.

Zarate, however, cited Section 7(d) of the House Rules saying that members can articulate the demands and interests of their constituents fully.

"We are not asking that as non-members of the committee that we given the right to vote; what we are saying is that we be given the chance to speak and discuss the allegations thoroughly," he said.

"Ang nangyayari ay parang gusto pang busalan maging kaming mga kongresistang gustong malalim na pag-aralan ang mga alegasyon," he added.

'A weapon of retaliation'

Zarate warned that if this will be norm for the House panel, then the fate of the Chief Justice in the committee may have been sealed.

"With threats of impeachment proceedings against critics of the present administration, this precipitate process creates a chilling perception that impeachment is being used as a weapon of retaliation," he said.

Villarin also expressed his disappointment over the committee's move.

"It is highly regrettable that we, fellow elected representatives of the people, were not allowed to speak our minds in opposition to the impeachment of the Chief Justice," he said.

"While we acknowledge that non-committee members cannot cast their votes, tradition allows House members to at least express their opinion, in the spirit of being representatives to a democratic institution," he added.

House panel chair Reynaldo Umali, however, said non-members were allowed to speak during the hearing.

"Ina-allow naman namin magsalita. Ang sinasabi lang natin, kapag votation, hindi sila pwede," he told reporters in an ambush interview after the hearing.

The House panel will determine if there is probable cause in the impeachment complaint in November after the month-long adjournment of session. — BM, GMA News