Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre on Friday, March 7, denied allegations that the House of Representatives delayed the transmission to the Senate of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Acidre said discussions and preparations already began the moment the complaints were filed, so "this was not a rushed or politically motivated move".
"This was a well-thought-out process that consolidated three different complaints into one strong, unified case," Acidre, a House assistant majority leader, said.
Acidre countered Senator Cynthia Villar’s remark that the House took its time before forwarding the Articles of Impeachment.
"Impeachment is a constitutional process that requires careful deliberation, legal scrutiny, and political consensus," Acidre said, adding that senators who were previously House members should be fully aware of the intricacies of the impeachment process.
Had the House opted to go through the usual House Committee on Justice hearings to dissect the impeachment raps, Acidre said it would have significantly prolonged the process.
“If we had gone through the House Committee on Justice, we would still be conducting hearings today. Every impeachment complaint must be carefully examined, and witnesses must be heard. These things take time, and they should,” Acidre said.
He underscored that the overwhelming support from House members was what allowed the process to move swiftly, contrary to claims of delay.
He also stressed that every step of the impeachment process was conducted transparently and in adherence to the Constitution, ensuring the case stood on solid legal ground.
"We didn’t just move fast for the sake of speed – we moved efficiently to ensure due process was followed, while at the same time, addressing the urgency of the matter," he added.
Acidre reminded senators that their responsibility now is to act "forthwith" on the impeachment case, rather than questioning the House’s process.