Teddy Casiño writes members of House Justice Committee: Wala na ba tayong dangal?

Dear Colleagues,

I write this letter in the hope of communicating with you directly and honestly regarding the impeachment proceedings.

This week, the Committee is poised to either dismiss or deal a fatal blow to the amended Lozano complaint using the so-called “prejudicial” questions. While killing the impeachment complaint via a technicality is certainly a prerogative of the majority, I ask, have we sunk so low as to agree to such a brazen, shameless parliamentary trick? Have we become so beholden to the President as to abdicate our right to even discuss the merits of her case?

Masyado na itong nakakahiya. Parang wala na tayong sariling dangal at integridad bilang Kongreso. Masyado na tayong nagpapagamit sa Malacañang.

The fact is that there is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that prevents us from accepting the amended Lozano complaint or consolidating it with the others. The Rules of Court on Criminal Procedure, which are suppletory to the House Impeachment Rules, allow for amendments that may involve both form and substance and may certainly include new allegations and charges.

As for the one-year ban on impeachment proceedings, let us remember that while there are two or three complaints against the President, THERE IS ONLY ONE PROCEEDINGS. The separate complaints were referred by Plenary to the Justice Committee last July 25 at the same time under a single motion! Thus, the much-cited Supreme Court ruling on the Francisco case DOES NOT APPLY because in that case there were two proceedings: the first complaint against Chief Justice Hilario Davide was already dismissed by the Justice Committee before the second complaint was filed and initiated.

The sad part is, I’m sure many of us already know these things but will still vote against the amended Lozano complaint. The Committee hearings have degenerated to a barefaced ploy to obfuscate the issues, avoid any serious discussion of the complaint and save the President’s skin on a mere technicality. SUCH A PLOY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO OUR PEOPLE NOR WILL IT BRING CLOSURE TO THE POLITICAL CRISIS. I hope you are not part of this ugly conspiracy.

As a last point, may I warn all of us that the moment we sabotage the impeachment process, there will be no stopping the people from taking matters into their own hands. People Power will judge not only the President but Congress as well.

The choice is ours to make, my dear colleagues.

Respectfully yours,
Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño