Impeachment complaint vs PNoy referred to House Committee on Justice on Monday — Gonzales

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the Joint Session of the 16th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday (July 28, 2014). The SONA delivered by the President is a yearly tradition wherein the Chief Executive reports on the status of the country, unveils the government’s agenda for the coming year, and may also propose to Congress certain legislative measures. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — A senior leader of the House of Representatives said on Thursday the three impeachment complaints filed against President Benigno S. Aquino III will be referred on Monday to the House Committee on Justice.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, who chairs the House Committee on Rules, said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has already transmitted to his panel the three impeachment complaints for inclusion in the Order of Business.

“By Monday, the plenary will refer the three impeachment complaints to the House Committee on Justice. The Speaker already transmitted the complaints to the House Committee on Rules,” Gonzales said in a chance interview.

Gonzales said the plenary will make a one-time referral of the three impeachment complaints to allow consolidation.

“The House Committee on Justice can consolidate the complaints, it is up to them to do that,” Gonzales explained.

The first impeachment complaint of 28 individuals from the anti-pork barrel groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was filed exactly three weeks ago by Monday.

Belmonte has reiterated that President Aquino’s allies in the House will not allow to accelerate the impeachment of the sitting President because he just did the right thing to help propel the country’s economy using the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), some provisions of which were declared by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Earlier, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Rep. Antonio Tinio and Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus endorsed the third impeachment complaint filed by 21 individuals from various progressive groups led by former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, president of the Makabayan coalition.

They accused President Aquino of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for directing the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States last April 28.

The second impeachment complaint was lodged by 25 youth and student groups headed by Youth Act Now, also in connection with President Aquino’s use of DAP.

The Committee on Justice chaired by Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas will scrutinize the impeachment complaint whether it is sufficient in form and substance, Gonzales said.