The attempt to file a second impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday hit a snag after the House of Representatives’ Office of the Secretary General refused to accept it.

The reason for the non-acceptance of the complaint being pushed by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)?

Answer: House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil is out of the country. 

Bayan leaders said they were informed that Garafil is in Taipei to receive the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, one of Taiwan’s highest civilian decorations, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In its complaint against Marcos, Bayan cited a betrayal of public trust in connection with the national budget and the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.

Bayan chairperson Teddy Casiño said they were told that no one else was authorized to receive the complaint in Garafil’s absence.

The complaint is anchored on allegations of systematic and large-scale misuse of public funds through presidential and congressional “allocations” in the national budget.

Former lawmaker and lawyer Neri Colmenares said the group will still submit the complaint, citing the House Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings.

Dismayed

He said Rule 2, Section 3 provides that a verified impeachment complaint filed by a member of the House, or by a citizen upon endorsement by a House member, “shall be filed with the Office of the Secretary General.”

Colmenares stressed that the rule does not explicitly require the secretary general herself to personally receive the document.

The complainants expressed dismay over the refusal to accept the complaint. 

Colmenares said they left a copy with the Office of the Secretary General and considered it filed in compliance with the Constitution and impeachment rules.

He said they also plan to inform House Speaker Faustino Dy III of the development and seek assurance that the complaint will be referred to the House Committee on Justice. 

Immunity

The first impeachment complaint was filed against Marcos on Monday, 19 January, endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Partylist Rep. Jett Nisay, a complaint seen by critics as weak and poorly written, one that will be quickly dismissed by the House justice committee.

If that complaint by Nisay does not prosper, the President will get a one-year immunity from being impeached. 

Garafil, who had chaired the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei before being appointed House secretary general last year, was set to receive the award in a conferment ceremony from Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. 

MECO serves as the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan.