Regular legislative sessions of Congress will resume tomorrow with leaders of the House of Representatives hoping to fasttrack in the remaining three weeks vital measures, including the formal rejection of the complaint for impeachment against seven Supreme Court justices.
House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said third and final reading on several bills will have to be taken, adding that these legislative proposals have significant social and economic reform impacts.
Castro aired hopes that majority of the 291 congressmen in the 17th Congress will show up starting tomorrow whether or not they emerged victorious during the May 13 elections.
At least 119 incumbent solons won re-election bids in their congressional districts. A number of congressmen on third and final term in Congress have either been replaced by a family member or have sought local posts.
Two House members, Reps. Zajid Mangudadatu (PDP-Laban, Maguindanao) and Gary Alejano (Magdalo partylist) are losing their candidacies for senator, results of latest canvassing of ballots revealed.
Castro expects House Resolution 2237 proposing the dismissal of complaints for impeachment against seven SC justices to be included in the order of business for tomorrow’s session opening.
However, he disclosed that the House may no longer take a vote on the issue, pointing out that it had already been overtaken by recent events. Castro explained that the House will not commit any violation of the law and the Constitution if it will choose to ignore it, adding that there is legal precedence on this issue.
The complaint filed by Reps. Edcel Lagman (LP, Albay); Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. (LP, Ifugao), and Alejano was recommended for dismissal by the Committee on Justice chaired by Mindoro Oriental Rep. Doy C. Leachon as early as October 2018. (Ben Rosario)
