A leader of the House of Representatives has called on his fellow lawmakers to focus on the passage of priority measures, instead of wasting time on a “scrap paper” presented as impeachment complaint versus Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo.
“Congress will only end up wasting time better spent on much-needed legislation, including those on tax reform, Traffic Crisis Act, as well as those that seek to make economic gains more inclusive,” Deputy Speaker and Liberal Party Rep. Romero S. Quimbo of Marikina City said.
He added: “The House of Representatives should not spend a single second on this baseless complaint. It’s a mere scrap of paper that is supported not by any evidence, but by mere erroneous conclusions of law.”
The lawmaker said Congress should not allow itself to be used by “recidivist impeachers”, who trivialize “this deeply sacred accountability measure enshrined in our Constitution.”
“We must not allow Congress and its members to be dragged into their petty political charades. It’s a travesty to our political institutions if we are to allow these people to cheapen this process,” he said.
Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez said he is still studying the impeachment complaint against Robredo.
Nacionalista Party Rep. Rodolfo T. Albano III of Isabela said: “I don’t think the President would like her ousted. [Why] Oliver Lozano he is a perpetual impeacher.”
On Monday Lozano, a lawyer, and Cesar Chavez asked Alvarez to endorse their draft impeachment complaint against Robredo.
The impeachment complaint was submitted to Alvarez days after Party-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano of Magdalo filed another impeachment complaint against President Duterte.
“We respectfully request that you endorse the attached complaint for impeachment against Leni Robredo. She is the termite of the government. Her unfaithfulness has extended to the betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution,” they said.
“She betrayed the people by shaming the nation with her dishonest message to the United Nations. [She] is duty-bound to act within the framework of the Constitution, but her acts of dishonesty and moral bankruptcy breached the bounds of the fundamental law.”
Roque’s appeal
Meanwhile, Party-list Rep. Harry L. Roque Jr. of Kabayan appealed to all political forces for Lenten meditation and reflection, especially in the wake of impeachment charges against the President and the Vice President.
“The impeachment complaint against President Duterte is bound to fail, as I believe more case building is needed for it to prosper, particularly on extralegal killings,” he said.
“On the other hand, the administration has the numbers to impeach Vice President Robredo. But, having said this, I would also like to point out that the words of the Vice President are insufficient by themselves to prove betrayal of public trust,” he said.
Roque also appealed to the Speaker that, while the majority has the numbers to impeach Robredo in the House, “the House of Representatives should also ensure conviction in the Senate to safeguard integrity and reputation of the House, and this, too, entails case building.”
Rationalization of perks
One of the bills that should be passed immediately, according to Deputy Speaker and AAMBIS-Owa Rep. Sharon S. Garin, is House Bill 3359, or the Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives Act, which is now pending before the House Committee on Ways and Means.
“It is important to reevaluate these incentives given to two business, and identify those that will remain and those that need to be done away with. Not only will it avoid redundancy, it will also be able to provide more support to exporting industries, micro, small and medium enterprises, and research and development,” Garin said.
Under Executive Order 226, also known as the Omnibus Investment Code of 1987, investors are given corporate income tax holidays for up to eight years. If enacted into
law, Garin said, the measure will balance the tension between creating attractive fiscal incentives for domestic and foreign investors and achieving social and economic goals.
“Businesses are the main source of tax revenues, which contribute to
public funding for better infrastructure, health, education and other
services,” Garin said.
“Investment incentives are the primary factor that attracts businesses to invest and expand in the country. Foreign direct investment is one of the major external sources of financing the growing economy,” she said.