MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ni House good government and public accountability panel chair Joel Chua na wala pa ring batayan para i-impeach si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. batay sa reklamo ni abogado Andre de Jesus.
Tinutukoy ni Chua ang impeachment complaint na isinampa ni de Jesus at inendorso ni Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jett Nisay.
“We have been informed that an impeachment complaint against President Marcos Jr. was filed today. As with any impeachment complaint, the House of Representatives will accord it the initial consideration required under the Constitution and our rules,” ani Chua.
“At the same time, it must be stated frankly that, based on what is publicly known at this point, the complaint faces a steep and difficult path in the House.”
Inaakusahan sa reklamo si Marcos ng graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, at betrayal of public trust kaugnay ng March 2025 na pag-aresto at pag-detain kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa The Hague para harapin ang paglilitis sa umano’y crimes against humanity na may kinalaman sa mga pagkamatay sa drug war.
Binanggit din sa reklamo ang pag-apruba ni Marcos sa unprogrammed appropriations, alegasyon ng paggamit ng droga, at mga pahayag na pinoprotektahan niya ang mga kaalyado mula sa imbestigasyon sa mga flood control projects.
Ani Chua, hindi mag-eendorso ang House ng impeachment complaint kung hindi ito umaayon sa konstitusyonal na pamantayan at walang matibay na ebidensya.
“Impeachment requires clear, specific, and well-substantiated allegations of impeachable offenses—not conjecture, political disagreement, or generalized accusations. So far, no issue has emerged that clearly rises to the level of an impeachable offense as defined by the Constitution,” ani Chua.
Dagdag pa niya, susuriin ng House ang reklamo sa porma at nilalaman nito, at isasagawa ang proseso nang may due process at walang prejudgment.
“The House will examine the complaint on its face, determine whether it meets constitutional and jurisprudential standards, and act accordingly—guided by reason, evidence, and law, not by noise or pressure,” sabi ni Chua.
Aniya rin, susundin ng House ang bagong mga patakaran ng Supreme Court sa impeachment, kabilang ang pangangailangan ng ebidensya, transparency, at karapatan ng respondent na marinig, kahit na nakabinbin pa ang apela ng House sa desisyon ng Korte.
“The public can be assured that the House will act deliberately, transparently, and within the bounds of the Constitution,” dagdag niya. RNT
