(Eagle News) — The Makabayan bloc on Thursday slammed what it said was the “highly irregular impeachment process” that resulted in the House justice panel finding probable cause to impeach Chief Justice Maria Lourdes.
The seven-member bloc said that “contrary to the position taken by the majority members of the committee on justice, the Gadon impeachment complaint failed to show probable cause that CJ Sereno committed any impeachable offense.”
“In fact, the grounds for impeachment were not even deliberated upon. The committee went straight to voting whether or not there was probable cause, without enumerating the grounds for impeachment,” they added.
According to the Makabayan bloc, the “highly irregular impeachment process” was “not only” a “denial of the due process right of CJ Sereno, but more so” a “grave disservice to the Filipino people.”
“What is sure,” they said, “is that this ceremonial voting by the committee is part of the orchestrated and systematic maneuvering by the Duterte administration and its minions to force the CJ to just resign.”
They said the “maneuvering” can also be seen in the filing of a quo warranto petition against Sereno in the Supreme Court, her indefinite leave, and the filing of various cases before the Ombudsman, among others,
These “extralegal and extra constitutional efforts,” they said, appear to show that “even” those against Sereno “are not convinced of the merits of the impeachment case.”
“It is also a sign that even after several months of hearing the same, the committee has found nothing on CJ to impeach her,” they said.
Voting 38-2, the House justice panel ruled there was probable cause to impeach Sereno on Thursday.
Umali said another hearing was slated on March 14, Wednesday.
During the hearing, he said the panel was slated to tackle the committee report and the Articles of Impeachment that will be voted on in the plenary.
If a one thirds vote of the entire House is achieved, the chamber will then transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which will turn itself into an impeachment court.
A quo warranto petition has also been filed against Sereno before the Supreme Court.