Marcos impeach raps junked due to weak evidence, lack of nexus —Luistro

The two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were found insufficient in substance due to weak evidence and lack of connection, House justice committee chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said Thursday.

Luistro noted that the committee’s decision was based on comments and manifestations made by its members during the three days of deliberations on the two complaints.

“What I heard from them. One, walang connection, kung tawagin ni Congresswoman De Lima 'nexus' between the allegation of facts and the impeachable ground,” Luistro told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(What I heard from them. One, there is no connection, as Congresswoman De Lima calls it, 'nexus,' between the allegation of facts and the impeachable ground.)

“Hindi sapat na ang isang official ay guilty of an offense. Dapat ma-establish natin 'yung causal connection or 'yung nexus between the allegation of facts and the impeachable grounds,” she added.

(It is not enough that an official is guilty of an offense. We must establish the causal connection, or the nexus, between the allegation of facts and the impeachable grounds.)

Luistro also pointed out that the allegations were not based on personal knowledge or authentic records, which are required under House impeachment rules.

“Isa sa mga naging obserbasyon ng ating mga justice members ay walang personal na participation ang ating impeachable official, in which case we cannot claim that he has personal knowledge,” she said.

(One of the observations of our justice members is that our impeachable official has no personal participation, in which case we cannot claim that he has personal knowledge.)

“About the authentic records, some members of the Justice committee commented that the attachments are merely news clippings. Dapat kasi authentic or certified 'yung mga ebidensya na gagamitin,” she added.

(About the authentic records, some members of the Justice Committee commented that the attachments are merely news clippings. The evidence to be used must be authentic or certified.)

The committee chair also said that the allegations of graft and corruption against Marcos cited a video of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is under probe for anomalous flood control projects.

“We will remember that that video up to this date is not yet authenticated," she said.

“For that to be admissible as to substantiate the allegation, mas maganda kung dumating dito 'yung tao, panumpaan either physically mag-appear or at least ‘yung affidavit niya for the purpose of sufficiency in substance ay maisumite sa Committee on Justice to support the sufficiency in substance na requirement,” she added.

Luistro clarified that the committee report declaring the impeachment complaints against Marcos insufficient in substance is “tantamount to dismissal."

But she noted that this is still subject to the approval of at least one-third of all members of the plenary.

“Kung idi-disapprove ito ng at least one-third of all the members of the plenary, that will amount to reversal. Parang binaligtad ang decision ng Justice committee. In which case, ibabalik ito sa Justice committee and the Justice committee will be constrained to come up with our articles of impeachment,” she said.

(If it is disapproved by at least one-third of all the members of the plenary, that will amount to reversal. It seems that the decision of the Justice Committee has been reversed, in which case, it will be returned to the Justice Committee, and the Justice Committee will be constrained to come up with our articles of impeachment.)

“And after that, that articles of impeachment will be submitted again to the plenary para aprubahan muli ng at least one-third ng members of the House at pagka ito ay na-achieve, itong one-third na ito, that will warrant transmittal to the Senate,” she added.

(And after that, those articles of impeachment will be submitted again to the plenary for approval again by at least one-third of the members of the House and when that one-third is achieved, that will warrant transmittal to the Senate.)

But for Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, member of the House Committee on Justice, said he sees no chance that one-third of the plenary members will vote to overturn the panel’s decision.

“Well, tingin ko wala chances na makakuha ng one-third vote. They might get some votes, but not one-third of all members. I don't think there will be a one-third vote of all members at plenary. So it will finish there,” Ridon said in an interview on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit.

(Well, I think there is no chance of getting a one-third vote. They might get some votes, but not one-third of all members. I don't think there will be a one-third vote of all members at plenary, so it will finish there.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News