The House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 11, voted to impeach Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista
The House of
Representatives on Wednesday, October 11, voted to impeach Commission on
Elections (Comelec)
Chairman Andres Bautista,
overturning a justice committee resolution that earlier dismissed the complaint against him.
Deputy Speaker
Gwendolyn Garcia, during session, moved to reject the committee's resolution,
arguing that the complaint must be tackled before the Senate sitting as animpeachment court.
Surigao del
Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers agreed with Garcia's
motion.
137 voted to
reject the committee resolution, 75 to adopt the resolution, while two
abstained.
The vote was
made a day before Congress was to adjourn session. Session will resume on
November 13.
House Speaker
Pantaleon Alvarez himself rejected the adoption of the resolution, saying he
believes the allegations against Bautista were "serious."
Earlier on
Wednesday, Bautista announced that he would step down from his post by December 31, 2017. (LOOK: What Comelec's Bautista told Duterte in his resignation letter)
The committee
on justice, which is tasked to tackle verified complaints against impeachable
officials, earlier junked the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Ferdinand
Topacio and former Negros Occidental congressman Jacinto Paras because it was
insufficient in form.
However,
Kabayan Representative Harry Roque, during a press conference, argued that theimpeachment must
still push through since, until Bautista resigns on December 31, theComelec chairman
may still sign contracts related to the 2019 elections.
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