Manila, Philippines – Along with the resumption of the House’s session on Monday, House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil formally and personally received the verified impeachment complaint filed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This is after the group returned to the House Office of the Sec. Gen to refile the complaint they originally submitted on January 22 but was not accepted because Garafil was out of the office.
Two impeachment complaints against Marcos was filed on the same day, but was both not accepted by the representatives of the Office, citing that Garafil is not present and that they have no authorization to receive it instead.
The two groups argued that there is no law under the Constitution stating that the Sec. gen should be personally present during the filing of an impeachment complaint.
The Makabayan bloc who endorsed the second impeachment complaint said that the refiling is just for formality and that there is more reason to refuse the case now that Garafil is back at the office from an engagement in Taiwan.
Following the OSG’s receipt of the document, Makabayan bloc hopes that it will be transmitted immediately to the office of the House Speaker and be included in the lower chamber’s Order of Business.
REP. SANDRO MARCOS RECUSES HIMSELF ON ALL IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS VS. PBBM
While there are already three impeachment complaints initiated against President Marcos, Presidential Son and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos announced his recusal from the impeachment proceedings of the House.
In an official statement, Cong. Sandro confirmed that he formally inhibited his participation from all the processes in relation to his father’s impeachment complaint.
Cong. Sandro says that while the House does not require his recusal, this decision is him committing with a higher obligation of securing and protecting the integrity and credibility of the House, and to retain the public’s trust to the chamber.
“The House must be allowed to discharge its constitutional duties without any shadow of personal interest, real or imagined. My recusal ensures that no question may be raised about the fairness, objectivity, or legitimacy of the process, and that the focus remains where it properly belongs — on the Constitution, the facts, and the rule of law,” Sandro said.
“I take this step not as a retreat from responsibility, but as an affirmation of it. Public office is a trust, and that trust is strengthened when those who hold power are willing to step aside to protect the institution they serve,” he added.
He noted that this is not him backing away from his duty, rather his way to ensure that the House’s process won’t be questioned over a potential conflict of interest from his participation in the proceedings.
He also expressed high confidence that the lawmakers of the House will act upon the issue aligned with the Constitution.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News