(Eagle News) — The House committee on justice on Wednesday voted to allow only its members to participate in impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
With a vote of 30-3, the members of the committee approved Rep. Gwen Garcia’s motion, which effectively denied the requests of her colleagues such as Rep. Edcel Lagman and Rep. Kaka Bag-ao that non-members be allowed to participate in such.
Lagman had argued participating in such an important process was an “inherent right,” while Bag-ao noted that allowing the participation of non-members would result in a more substantive discussion.
Majority leader Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, however, noted that allowing non-members of the committee to participate would set a dangerous precedent, noting that under the rules, this was not allowed.
“You cannot have your cake and eat it too,” he said.
Garcia added non-members should not be allowed to take part in proceedings, “in the interest of an expeditious conduct” of the same.