Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila ... - Columba.us

RULE V
BAR AGAINST
IMPEACHMENT
Section 14. Scope of Bar. – No
impeachment proceedings shall be
initiated against the same official
more than once within the period
of one (1) year.
overturn or affirm the finding of
the said Committee that the
verified complaint and/or
resolution, as the case may be, is
not sufficient in substance.
In cases where a verified
complaint or a resolution of
impeachment is filed or endorsed,
as the case may be, by at least
one-third (1/3) of the Members of
the House, impeachment
proceedings are deemed
initiated at the time of the filing
of such verified complaint or
resolution of impeachment with
the Secretary General.
Section 17. Bar Against
Initiation Of Impeachment
Proceedings. – Within a period
of one (1) year from the date
impeachment proceedings are
deemed initiated as provided in
Section 16 hereof, no
impeachment proceedings, as
such, can be initiated against the
same official. (Italics in the
original; emphasis and
underscoring supplied)
On July 22, 2002, the House of Representatives adopted a Resolution, 2 sponsored by
Representative Felix William D. Fuentebella, which directed the Committee on Justice "to
conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the manner of disbursements and expenditures
by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF)." 3
On June 2, 2003, former President Joseph E. Estrada filed an impeachment complaint 4 (first
impeachment complaint) against Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr. and seven Associate
Justices 5 of this Court for "culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of the public trust and
other high crimes." 6 The complaint was endorsed by Representatives Rolex T. Suplico, Ronaldo
B. Zamora and Didagen Piang Dilangalen, 7 and was referred to the House Committee on Justice
on August 5, 2003 8 in accordance with Section 3(2) of Article XI of the Constitution which
reads: