(Eagle News) — The House justice committee on Tuesday went ahead with its hearing on the impeachment of Andres Bautista even after the Palace announced it had accepted his resignation “effective immediately” as Commission on Elections chair.
But the hearing lasted for only a few minutes, after the panel committee decided it would be moot and academic to proceed with impeachment proceedings as the committee had already received a letter from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea informing them of President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of Bautista’s resignation, and a letter from Bautista’s law firm informing them of the same.
House committee chair Reynaldo Umali said he also received a call from Medialdea informing him of the President’s decision at 12: 04 a.m.
It was 1-Edukasyon Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr. who made the motion to terminate impeachment proceedings.
Umali instead asked congressmen present to speak on Bautista’s case during the hearing.
“…It has ended well for the House of Representatives and for the Senate. This relieves us from the many things we have to do,” Umali said.
