LAWMAKERS at the House of Representatives will have no time for simultaneous impeachment complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni Robredo", and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said with Congress having its sine die adjournment on June 2, they will simply have no time to pursue three complaints.
"Mahihirapan tayo kasi dapat nating alalahanin na end of the month recess na yung Congress nun. Ang balik natin Sona na. Tapos pagpasok ng Sona ay yung budget hearing naman [na] tatakbo hanggang November...[So] medyo kakapusin tayo sa panahon," Alvarez admitted.
Currently, only the impeachment complaint against Duterte was formally filed before the House of Representatives' Secretary General. It was filed by Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano.
However, when session resumed last week, a group called Impeach Leni Movement through their spokesperson Bruce Rivera tried to file an impeachment complaint against Robredo, but failed to secure an endorsement from any lawmaker.
An endorsement of a lawmaker is required if the impeachment complaint is to be pursued by a non-House member.
The group said their draft complaint was already submitted to several lawmakers for review.
Alvarez also confirmed that the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) has been seeking his endorsement for their planned impeachment raps versus Morales.
"Totoo 'yan, pinapa-endorso nila sa akin. Kaya lang sabi ko pag-aaralan ko 'yang mabuti. [A]ng sabi ko nga, ni-refer ko rin sa committee on justice para i-evaluate din nila kung talaga bang kailangan nating iendorso 'yan o hindi, Alvarez said.
Among the three, Alvarez said they will prioritize the complaint against the President, since it is the only one currently on their table.
"Well yung unang nai-file na impeachment against the President, kailangan i-tackle na siguro yun. Kasi na refer na yun sa committee on justice. So dapat the committee on justice must act on it," Alvarez said.
Alejano in his complaint said Duterte is not fit to be President due to his alleged hidden wealth and his hand in extrajudicial killings in the country, among others. (SunStar Philippines)