House panel: Impeachment complaints vs SC justices ‘sufficient in form’

WITH 21 affirmative votes and zero negative, the House Committee on Justice found “sufficient in form” the consolidated impeachment complaints filed against seven Supreme Court justices who granted the quo warranto case that ousted Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno as chief justice.
“We have 21 members voting in the affirmative, zero against, so the motion is approved,” Committee chair, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador C. Leachon, said during the panel meeting on Tuesday.
Mr. Leachon was acting on the motion of Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry S. Oaminal to vote on the complaints’ sufficiency in form.
The complaints were filed by Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano, Ifugao Rep. Teddy B. Baguilat Jr., and Akbayan Rep. Tomasito S. Villarin.
The panel, however, suspended until Sept. 11 consideration of the complaints’ sufficiency in substance.
The impeachment complaints were filed by Mr. Lagman, Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano, Ifugao Rep. Teddy B. Baguilat Jr., and Akbayan Rep. Tomasito S. Villarin, who however the committee did not recognize because he was not a signatory in the complaints.
“As you all know I was not able to make it to the filing because of an emergency in Davao, where I live,” Mr. Villarin said, as he appealed to the Committee that he be allowed to amend the complaints and affix his signature.
“If the committee will allow, having the jurisdiction, (to) amend the complaint, may I take an oath that I do have personal knowledge of the contents of the impeachment complaint?” Mr. Villarin said. But the committee denied his appeal. — Charmaine A. Tadalan