Another impeachment complaint vs Noy filed Monday

MANILA, Philippines - Militant groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) announced yesterday that they would be filing their impeachment complaint against President Aquino on Monday.

The groups said they intend to charge Aquino with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in relation to his Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), parts of which the Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional.

“The filing will be at the office of the secretary general of the House of Representatives. More than 20 individuals have signed on as complainants, including DAP petitioners at the SC, bishops and professionals,” they said.

Bayan was originally scheduled to file its complaint last Wednesday but postponed it because of the typhoon.

It would be the first valid impeachment case to be filed against the President, since representatives belonging to the Makabayan bloc led by Bayan Muna have committed to endorse it.

Under the House impeachment rules, a complaint has to be endorsed by at least one member for it to be considered a valid case against an impeachable officer.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares earlier said he and his Makabayan bloc colleagues would endorse the complaint of Bayan and other militant groups.

“We will serve as endorsers, not complainants. Bayan will be the main complainant. Many people confuse Bayan Muna with Bayan,” he said.

Two complaints have been presented to the House and Rep. Terry Ridon of party-list group Kabataan, but they lack the required House member-endorser.

Former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr. and Marcos loyalist lawyer Oliver Lozano authored the two complaints.

Syjuco lodged his with the House records division, where he said any interested member of the chamber he served could go to and endorse it.