Palace: Solon who endorsed impeach rap vs. Marcos among contractors named by ICI

Malacañang on Monday underscored that the lawmaker who endorsed the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. was among those implicated in the flood control scandal.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Malacañang has no personal knowledge regarding the intention of filing an impeachment complaint, but she mentioned that the congressman who endorsed it was earlier identified by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure as a "cong-tractor."

''Wala po tayong personal na kaalaman kung ano ang kanilang intensyon patungkol po sa pagfafile ng impeachment complaint. Ang atin lamang pong nalaman sa ngayon ay ang party-list na nagendorse ay isa sa walo na contractors na nabanggit ng ICI,'' Castro said.

(We have no personal knowledge as regards their intention in filing the impeachment complaint. We learned that the party-list that endorsed this was among the eight contractors mentioned by the ICI.)  

Pusong Pinoy Party-list Representative Jett Nisay was among the lawmakers named by the ICI, who should be investigated for possible plunder and bribery in connection with billions of pesos worth of infrastructure projects from 2016 to 2024.

It was in November of last year when the ICI asked the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct further investigation for possible violations of Nisay and other congressmen of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Government Procurement Reform Act, or the New Government Procurement Act, and Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution.

''These so-called cong-tractors are those members of Congress or their partners or family members who own construction firms that receive project awards or obtain contracts from the DPWH,” ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. had said.

To recall, Marcos had ordered the investigation into the alleged corruption in the flood control projects, including the possible links to lawmakers. 

Filed by Atty. Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Nisay, the grounds cited in the impeachment complaint against the President were graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

The impeachment process begins at the House of Representatives, where any member or citizen can file a verified complaint, which shall be endorsed by any House member. 

This shall be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days and referred to the proper House committee within three session days thereafter. 

After conducting a hearing and by a majority of votes by the panel members, the House committee shall submit a report to the House within sixty session days. The resolution will be calendared by the House within 10 session days.

Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice questioned the motives behind De Jesus’ impeachment filing, saying it may be intended to trigger the one-year ban on impeachment complaints and block other cases from being filed.

"I just found out kasi back in 2024 sometime in Novermber, the same Andre De Jesus filed a disbarment against Atty Glenn Chong for statements vilifying the First Lady (Liza Araneta-Marcos)," he said.

"I am sure that he filed a case against Atty. Glenn Chong to defend the First Lady," Erice added.—LDF/MCG, GMA Integrated News