Vice President Sara Duterte (left), SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Facebook)

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta claimed that he was kicked out of his committee memberships in the House of Representatives as a way to exclude him in the discussion once an impeachment complaint against his political ally, Vice President Sara Duterte, gets filed. 

Marcoleta explained his theory during a recent episode of "Sa Ganang Mamamayan" on NET 25. 

"Sa aking palagay ito ay planado. Hindi ka ba nabigla? Hindi ako nabigla kasi kung tutuntunin mo, talagang nagmimina sila ng kahit anong maibabato nila sa Vice President," he said. 

(This was planned, in my opinion. Weren't you surprised? I wasn't surprised because if you think about it, they're really looking for something to throw against the Vice President.) 

"Sa tamang panahon, akala nila, pag nakakalap na sila ng ganito, magfa-file ng impeachment," Marcoleta said. 

(They believe that, at the proper time, when they've gathered enough of this, an impeachment complaint would be filed.) 

Marcoleta then asked his co-host: "Saan magsisismula ang impeachment? Saang kumite? (Where does impeachment originate? From which committee?" 

"Committee on Justice, Cong," the co-host answered. 

"Vice chairman ako dun. Oh eh bat ako tinanggal? Para hindi ako makasali doon. Yun ang alam nila di ba?" said the party-list lawmaker, a former deputy speaker. 

(I was a vice chairman there. Why was I removed? So that I won't be able to participate. That's what they know, right?) 

Only solons who are members of certain committees can make motions and vote during panel hearings.

BUT FIRST, READ THIS: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/25/marcoleta-stripped-of-juicy-committee-memberships

Once filed by a civilian and endorsed by a House member, an impeachment complaint gets referred to the Committee on Justice. It is here that the complaint gets vetted for sufficiency in form and in substance. 

Last Sept. 25, or the last session day before the current recess, Marcoleta was yanked from the Commission on Appointments (CA), as well as the Committees on Energy, Justice, Public Accounts, and Constitutional Amendments.  

The previous week, he was removed from the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability. 

Marcoleta's House colleagues have repeatedly said that there was no impeachment plot against the Vice President.