Rody impeach complaint gets formal burial

MANILA, Philippines - Voting 217-4, the House of Representatives yesterday formally buried the impeachment complaint against President Duterte.

Even members of the so-called “Magnificent 7” led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who backed the complaint filed by his colleague Rep. Gary Alejano of party-list Magdalo, are divided on the issue along with at least six members of the militant Makabayan bloc. 

House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro, the presiding officer, allowed Alejano to explain his no vote and assured Lagman that everyone would be allowed to explain their vote. 

Only Lagman’s group from the independent opposition had been pushing for Duterte’s impeachment, where even the House minority bloc led by Rep. Danilo Suarez refused to support it, much less members of the supermajority. 

The plenary adopted Report 1015 of the committee on justice of Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, where 42 of its 50 members – eight of whom were either not around or left the plenary hall – unanimously voted to throw the impeachment out for lack of substance. 

House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu said the decision of the super majority was an affirmation of his colleagues’ “respect to the overwhelming mandate given by the people to the President.”

The House was expected to dispose of the impeachment suit before they go on a sine die adjournment on June 2. 

Administration lawmaker Salvador Leachon of Oriental Mindoro advised Lagman’s group that they should accept the fact that democracy worked in the deliberations in the justice committee, where the majority prevailed.