Two lawmakers belonging to the Makabayan bloc, Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. (黑料社 FILE PHOTO)
The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives denounced the justice committee鈥檚 decision on Wednesday to bar non-members as well as lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from participating in its impeachment proceedings.
搁贰础顿:听House panel votes against participation of non-members in Sereno impeach hearings
ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio asserted that all members of Congress are entitled to participate in the impeachment hearings against Sereno.
鈥淗indi ito ang unang impeachment na ginawa ng Congress kahit sinong member bsta interesado pinapahintulutang magtanong whether pro or against,鈥� Tinio said.
鈥淧ero ngayon lang nangyari sa kongresong ito na pinagbawal ang non-members ng justice committee na lumahok at mag-participate,鈥� he added.
The lawmaker surmised that the committee members could only be afraid that they might expose the loopholes in the impeachment complaint filed against the chief magistrate by lawyer Lorenzo 鈥淟arry鈥� Gadon.
鈥淏akit ginagawa yan ano ba ang kinakatukatan ng kongreso? Super majority na nga yan kita naman sa botohan, siguro kinakatakutan nila na ay baka malantad yung kahinaan at kawalang basahena ng impeachment complaint na gusto nilang iratsada,鈥� he added.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the impeachment case is just being used to pin down personalities and institutions that oppose the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
鈥淭ingin natin itong impeachment complaint ay finile para pahinain Constitution at ilagay sa alanganin ang mga institution at personalidad na di sumasang-ayon sa tindig ng kasalukuyang admin,鈥� he said.
Likewise, Gabriela Rep. Emmie De Jesus lamented the events that transpired at the hearing.
鈥淵ung mga ganitong ruling lalong naglalantad na anti-democratic talaga yung proseso na ginagawa dito sa Congress,鈥� she said.
Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago also accused Duterte of having a hand in the impeachment case against Sereno.
鈥淢inamdali na ni Duterte sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kasabawat na super-majority allies sa loob ng kongreso at dalian na pag-impeach kay CJ sereno para tanggalan ng boses nago-oppose sa mg patakaaran ni Duterte,鈥� she said.
But Mr. Duterte had already denied being behind attempts to remove Sereno from her position.
搁贰础顿:听Duterte tells Sereno: I鈥檓 not behind your impeachment
Sereno is being accused of聽culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.
The House justice committee鈥檚 hearing on Wednesday was scheduled to determine if there is probable cause to impeach the Supreme Court chief. 聽聽聽聽 /kga