CBCP: Some lawmakers trying to dismiss Tancangco complaint

The social arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the National Secretariat for Social Action and Justice (NASSA) yesterday accused some members of the House of Representatives of deliberately dismissing the impeachment complaint filed against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco.

"Blocking the investigation declares that high crimes are excusable. It sends the signal that scandalous wrongdoings by public officials are dismissible as petty offenses unworthy of serious attention," said NASSA chairman Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez in a statement.

Gutierrez said blocking the investigation "sets the example that graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution are expected of government officials, especially those in the upper ranks."

He added that he observed the deafening silence of House justice committee members who found the 280-page impeachment complaint insufficient in substance but failed to explain their votes.

Gutierrez also claimed that blocking the investigation defeats the government’s campaign for good governance and is a disservice to the Filipino people.

"The impeachment initiative marks a significant occasion in the country’s history where those entrusted to represent the Filipino people’s interest are handed the opportunity to demonstrate political will to vanquish irresponsible governance," he said.

Meanwhile, Sister Rosanne Mallillin, NASSA executive secretary and a signatory to the impeachment complaint, urged congressmen to conduct a "transparent and fair investigation to establish whether Tancangco is guilty of the accusations."

She said Congress has been deliberating on the complaint for two plenary hearings, but have not decided whether to investigate the allegations.

A total of 73 congressmen’s votes are needed to override the justice committee’s decision to dismiss the complaint. If the requisite number of votes are obtained, the impeachment complaint will be elevated to the Senate for investigation.

Complainants hope that the congressmen reach a decision by Feb. 3.

Fifteen organizations, joined by Rep. Monico Puentevella (Lakas, Bacolod City), filed the complaint. The 15 included the National Movement for Free Elections headed by businessman Jose Concepcion Jr.

The petition was endorsed by 65 congressmen.

Tancangco was accused of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution.

She allegedly showed bias for the multi-billion peso voters registration and information system (VRIS) project, deciding to undertake it despite the lack of funds.

The Supreme Court has voided the contract for the VRIS project.

The complainants also alleged that Tancangco wasted public funds by conducting precinct mapping, for which there was no appropriation in the poll body’s budget.

Rep. Marcelino Libanan (NPC, Eastern Samar), justice committee chairman, said in the committee-level vote, 36 members found the impeachment petition lacking in substance and should therefore be dismissed, while 16 voted against throwing it out.

Six committee members did not vote, while three abstained, he said.

He said it would have required at least 32 votes to pursue the complaint.

He did not explain why committee members judged the petition to be lacking in substance. Neither did the panel’s report.

The report merely pointed out that the appreciation of the substance or lack of it of an impeachment complaint depends on the "wisdom and discretion" of committee members.

It stressed that such a complaint is more of a political issue than a legal matter.

Earlier, the House of Representatives decided to defer for Monday the vote on the impeachment complaint against Tancangco.