Chua speaks out vs IBP support for SC ruling on impeachment
At A Glance
- Lawyer-solon Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua felt compelled to express his dissent to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' (IBP) statement that supported the Supreme Court's (SC) declaration of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional.
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (PPAB)
Lawyer-solon Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua felt compelled to express his dissent to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' (IBP) statement that supported the Supreme Court's (SC) declaration of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional.
“Respectfully, I dissent with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on its statement on the [SC] decision on Duterte v. House of Representatives,” Chua said in a statement Sunday, Aug. 3
“I dissent because the Constitution is above Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The [SC], being the ‘court of last resort,’ cannot supplant, expand, or add to the Constitution. Their latest decision on impeachment did supplant, expand, and add to what the Constitution so clearly provides,” he added.
With its ruling last week, the SC voided the seven articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte.
The impeachment articles--most notably the alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds--was based on the findings of an inquiry by the Chua-led Committee on Government and Public Accountability during the previous 19th Congress.
Chua retained his chairmanship of the Committee in the current 20th Congress.
Contrary to claims of procedural impropriety, Chua stressed that the House acted within its exclusive constitutional authority to advance the articles of impeachment.
“I understand where the IBP is coming from. In fact, I empathize. But we in the House have the exclusive power to advance articles of Iopeachment exactly as the Constitution provides. We did not act in disregard of due process,” he said.
“We acted according to the last legal resort available to the Filipino people when the highest and impeachable public officials violate the public trust,” Chua concluded.