Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila ... - Columba.us
Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila ... - Columba.us
Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila ... - Columba.us
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MR. MAAMBONG. With reference to Section 3, regarding <strong>the</strong> procedure and <strong>the</strong><br />
substantive provisions on impeachment, I understand <strong>the</strong>re have been many proposals<br />
and, I think, <strong>the</strong>se would need some time for Committee action.<br />
However, I would j<strong>us</strong>t like to indicate that I submitted to <strong>the</strong> Committee a resolution on<br />
impeachment proceedings, copies <strong>of</strong> which have been furnished <strong>the</strong> Members <strong>of</strong> this<br />
body. This is borne out <strong>of</strong> my experience as a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Committee on J<strong>us</strong>tice,<br />
Human Rights and Good Government which took charge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> last impeachment<br />
resolution filed before <strong>the</strong> First Batasang Pambansa. For <strong>the</strong> information <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Committee, <strong>the</strong> resolution covers several steps in <strong>the</strong> impeachment proceedings<br />
starting with initiation, action <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Speaker committee action, calendaring <strong>of</strong><br />
report, voting on <strong>the</strong> report, transmittal referral to <strong>the</strong> Senate, trial and judgment<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Senate.<br />
x x x<br />
MR. MAAMBONG. Mr. Presiding Officer, I am not moving for a reconsideration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
approval <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> amendment submitted by Commissioner Regalado, but I will j<strong>us</strong>t make <strong>of</strong><br />
record my thinking that we do not really initiate <strong>the</strong> filing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Articles <strong>of</strong> Impeachment<br />
on <strong>the</strong> floor. The procedure, as I have pointed out earlier, was that <strong>the</strong> initiation<br />
starts with <strong>the</strong> filing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> complaint. And what is actually done on <strong>the</strong> floor is that<br />
<strong>the</strong> committee resolution containing <strong>the</strong> Articles <strong>of</strong> Impeachment is <strong>the</strong> one<br />
approved by <strong>the</strong> body.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> phraseology now runs, which may be corrected by <strong>the</strong> Committee on Style, it<br />
appears that <strong>the</strong> initiation starts on <strong>the</strong> floor. If we only have time, I could cite examples<br />
in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> impeachment proceedings <strong>of</strong> President Richard Nixon wherein <strong>the</strong><br />
Committee on <strong>the</strong> Judiciary submitted <strong>the</strong> recommendation, <strong>the</strong> resolution, and <strong>the</strong><br />
Articles <strong>of</strong> Impeachment to <strong>the</strong> body, and it was <strong>the</strong> body who approved <strong>the</strong> resolution. It<br />
is not <strong>the</strong> body which initiates it. It only approves or disapproves <strong>the</strong> resolution. So,<br />
on that score, probably <strong>the</strong> Committee on Style could help in rearranging <strong>the</strong>se words<br />
beca<strong>us</strong>e we have to be very technical about this. I have been bringing with me The Rules<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ho<strong>us</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Representatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> U.S. Congress. The Senate Rules are with me. The<br />
proceedings on <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> Richard Nixon are with me. I have submitted my proposal, but<br />
<strong>the</strong> Committee has already decided. Never<strong>the</strong>less, I j<strong>us</strong>t want to indicate this on record.<br />
x x x<br />
MR. MAAMBONG. I would j<strong>us</strong>t like to move for a reconsideration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> approval <strong>of</strong><br />
Section 3 (3). My reconsideration will not at all affect <strong>the</strong> substance, but it is only in<br />
keeping with <strong>the</strong> exact formulation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rules <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ho<strong>us</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Representatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
United States regarding impeachment.<br />
I am proposing, Madam President, without doing damage to any <strong>of</strong> this provision, that on<br />
page 2, Section 3 (3), from lines 17 to 18, we delete <strong>the</strong> words which read: "to initiate<br />
impeachment proceedings" and <strong>the</strong> comma (,) and insert on line 19 after <strong>the</strong> word