(Eagle News) — The House Justice panel on Thursday approved the committee report and resolution that dismissed the impeachment complaint filed against Commission on Elections chair Andres Bautista.
Nineteen members voted for the motion of Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal to make such an approval.
Only two members—Rep. Gwen Garcia and Rep. Harry Roque—voted against Oaminal’s motion.
The complaint filed by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and former Rep. Jacinto Paras on Aug. 23 was earlier dismissed for being insufficient in form.
Paras and Topacio had alleged in the complaint that Bautista betrayed the public trust when he failed to disclose some of his wealth in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, among others.
Some of these allegations were based on accusations hurled by Bautista’s estranged wife Patricia against him.
The committee report will now be submitted to plenary, where it will be either approved or rejected.
The dismissal of the complaint can be overturned if there is a vote for the same of at least one-third members of the House.
