Caloocan Lawmaker Slams Initial Impeachment Complaint Against President Marcos as 'Basura'
In a recent radio interview, Caloocan City Representative Egay Erice strongly criticized the first impeachment complaint filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., describing it as 'basura' or trash. The congressman emphasized that the complaint lacks substantial content and fails to present compelling evidence beyond news scripts that support the alleged grounds for impeachment.
Weak Substance and Insufficient Evidence Highlighted
Rep. Erice pointed out that the complaint's substance is notably weak, with almost no heavy evidence to back its claims. This stands in contrast to the assertions made by lawyer Atty. Andre de Jesus, who previously stated that he meticulously studied the complaint and gathered extensive evidence to support the impeachment grounds against President Marcos. However, Erice argued that based on the mentioned grounds, the complaint seems to lead nowhere and is unlikely to convince other lawmakers to support it.
Procedural Haste in Congress Raises Concerns
Adding to his critique, Rep. Erice expressed concerns over the House of Representatives' rushed processing of the complaint. He noted that the House Secretary General transmitted it to the Office of the House Speaker just two days after it was filed, bypassing the standard ten-day period for review or waiting for additional complaints. This swift action, which later led to an endorsement to the Justice Committee, effectively initiated the complaint process.
According to Erice, this move could prevent other, potentially more substantial impeachment complaints from being filed against the President, regardless of the strength of their evidence. He suggested that the complaint might have been filed primarily to grant the President a one-year immunity from further impeachment attempts, raising questions about the political motivations behind the timing and handling of the case.
