(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said he would move for the expulsion of senators who will join the House of Representatives in its constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. Lacson said he made the suggestion in a caucus of senators on Tuesday. “Nobody objected,” he said. “Anyway, as of yesterday, wala namang may plano. I was just concerned that in case of that remote possibility na meron in the future, he or […]
Tag: House of Representatives
Lower House adopts resolution convening Congress into a constituent assembly
(Eagle News) — The House of Representatives agreed to adopt a resolution that would convene Congress into a constituent assembly in preparation for the move to amend the 1987 Constitution. In House concurrent resolution no. 9, both the Senate and the House of Representatives will constitute itself as a constituent assembly. The resolution was sponsored by House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair Roger Mercado. It was approved by majority of the lawmakers and adopted via […]
House panel approves bill seeking to declare Kalayaan Island Group as “alienable, disposable” land
(Eagle News) — The House committee on natural resources has approved a bill seeking to declare the Kalayaan Island Group as “alienable and disposable land for agricultural, residential and commercial purposes.” In their explanatory note of House Bill 5614, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said there was an “urgent need” to make such a declaration to “promote permanent dwelling and develop a viable source of livelihood for the residents…” They noted that the […]
Verified complaint vs CJ Sereno, isinumite ng isang abogado sa House panel
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Isang verified complaint ang isinumite ng isang abogado sa House justice committee laban kay Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno. Nais ni Atty. Eligio Mallari na maisama sa mga batayan ang kaniyang hawak na mga dokumento na magpapatunay na nakagawa ng culpable violation sa Constitution ang punong mahistrado kasama na ang graft and corruption at betrayal of public trust. Ang tinutukoy ni Atty. Mallari sa kaniyang verified complaint ang naging sulat ng […]
Joint session of House, Senate that will decide on fate of Mindanao martial law extension proposal begins amid protests
(Eagle News) — The joint session of the two houses of Congress which will once again determine the fate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao began on Wednesday, amid protests being held by militant groups against the proposal. Senate President Koko Pimentel and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez banged the gavel inside the session hall of the Batasang Pambansa a few minutes past 9 a.m. Fourteen senators were present […]
House leadership will no longer ask CJ Sereno to attend impeachment hearing
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The leadership of the House of Representatives will no longer compel Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to attend the impeachment hearing against her. Speaker of the House Pantaleon Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rudolfo Fariñas said that CJ Sereno already submitted a general denial regarding the allegations against her and that the Impeachment Committee can still call and invite other resource persons. “Under our rules, even the […]
Senator Drilon says Congress has limited power of subpoena against CJ Sereno; warns of possible constitutional crisis
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Members of the opposition said that the House of Representatives only have limited powers of subpoena against Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon warned that there might be a constitutional crisis if the House Committee on Justice insists on using its coercive powers against Sereno. Drilon also said that the House’s power to issue subpoena is limited only to investigations in aid of […]
Rep. Umali says House justice panel may issue a subpoena for Chief Justice Sereno
(Eagle News) — House justice panel chair Rep. Rey Umali said they may issue a subpoena to Supreme Court Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno “Kung mayroon talagang mga bagay na dapat siyang testiguhan, marahil magiissue ang komite ng subpoena,” Umali said in a radio interview. According to Umali, if a subpoena is issued and Sereno doesn’t comply, “maoobliga na tayo mag-issue ng warrant.” The first option, however, he said, is basing the final articles of impeachment […]
CJ Sereno camp decries House justice panel decision to bar her lawyers from cross-examining witnesses in impeach proceedings
(Eagle News) — The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday decried the House justice committee’s decision to bar her lawyers from cross-examining witnesses during impeachment proceedings. In an e-mailed statement, the lawyers who represent Sereno said the decision was “tantamount to barring CJ Sereno herself, and belies their claim of an open and democratic process that honors the right to a fair trial.” According to them, it was “deplorable that we should […]
House justice committee to summon SC associate justice, reporter to impeach hearing vs CJ Sereno
(Eagle News) — The House justice committee will subpoena Associate Justice Teresita de Castro and a Manila Times reporter in subsequent impeachment hearings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno. The decision was reached after Larry Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint, admitted he found out about Sereno’s alleged tampering of a draft temporary restraining order penned by De Castro only through reporter Jomar Canlas and some employees from the Supreme Court. The alleged tampering is […]
“What are you afraid of?” Speaker Alvarez tells Chief Justice Sereno on her refusal to attend impeach proceedings vs her
(Eagle News) — What are you afraid of? This was the message of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who has rejected calls for her to appear before impeachment proceedings against her. “Bakit ka naman takot humarap doon? Ano ba kinakatakot mo?” Alvarez told reporters on the sidelines of a judicial forum on Tuesday. Alvarez made the pronouncement after Sereno insisted–through letters sent to the House justice committee– on what she said […]
SC chief justice warns democracy threatened by impeachment move vs her; insists on judicial independence
Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has warned that any moves to impeach her will endanger the country’s democracy, and reminded judges to resist political pressure and uphold judicial independence. “These are challenging times and it is difficult to keep on saying no to the powers that be, but this is part of the sacred trust for which we have made our vows,” she said during a speech on Monday at the unveiling […]





