MANILA, Philippines — Just on its second hearing, the three impeachment complaints filed against President Benigno Aquino III were declared “insufficient in substance” by the House of Representatives Justice committee on Tuesday.
The three complaints were dismissed separately, with most of the panel members (54) voting to junk each complaint as against only four members who voted for it.
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares hit the speed with which the three impeachment complaints were junked. Rep. Colmenares was among the four lawmakers who voted in favor of the impeachment raps. The three other lawmakers who voted in favor of the raps are Reps.Carlos Zarate also of Bayan Muna, Luz Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus, both from Gabriela.
Panel chairman Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., said a report on the dismissal of the said impeachment complaints will be referred to the plenary for approval.
The first two complaints stemmed from Aquino’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). The third complaint is regarding the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Parts of the DAP were already declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. EDCA seeks greater US military presence in the country although there is a constitutional ban on foreign bases.