House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas said the House plenary is not likely to vote on the articles of impeachment against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno before it goes in a Congressional break on March 21.

In an interview with the media on March 6, Mr. Fariñas said the committee on rules has 10 days to include the report of the committee on justice after voting on the probable cause on March 8.

“So even in that natural progression of time, like I said, that will be… we’re looking at May 14 or after May 14 when we come back, because how can we act on it if we are adjourned? Naka-adjourn din ‘yung Senate, so wala (The Senate is also on a legislative break). So May 14, that’s the soonest that we can take it up in plenary.”

Mr. Fariñas added: “Wala (No vote)… no vote on plenary, sa committee lang (only in the committee level).”

The majority leader said he is inclined to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the quo warranto filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) as the high tribunal will have a month to decide on the petition while the Congress is adjourned.

“This is my view as chairman of the Committee on Rules, pag nakikita ko na may serious challenge on the legitimacy of the officer in question, hintayin ko muna ‘yun dahil hindi naman (when I see there’s a serious challenge on the legitimacy of the officer in question, I will wait for the decision…)… this will be of utmost importance by the Supreme Court, that will be resolved in a month’s time, hindi naman magtatagal iyan (it won’t take that long to be resolved)…” Mr. Fariñas said. — Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

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