Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Friday defended the decision of Office of the Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Velicaria Garafil not to receive an impeachment complaint in her absence, saying the move is required under House rules and long-standing parliamentary practice.

Adiong said the receipt of an impeachment complaint is neither casual nor clerical, but a formal constitutional act that must strictly comply with House procedures.

“It is a formal constitutional act that must strictly comply with House Rules. It cannot be improvised, delegated casually, or reduced to a mere drop-off,” said Adiong, a member of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

He explained that the careful process reflects the gravity of impeachment proceedings. Under House rules, impeachment complaints must be formally filed with and received by the Secretary General, who serves as the official custodian of House records and certifications.

“The Secretary General is required, upon receipt, to determine whether the complaint is complete and whether it complies with constitutional and rules-based requirements on form, including verification, endorsements, and accompanying documents,” Adiong said. “This is not a mechanical function that can be exercised without authority or accountability.”

Adiong added that official receipt carries serious legal consequences, including its effect on the one-year impeachment ban. “Dahil po ito, once officially tinanggap ang complaint, ay kailangan na niya itong i-refer sa Speaker, at mayroon itong direktang bearing sa magiging epekto ng one-year ban. For this reason, strict compliance with the Rules is indispensable,” he said.

The lawmaker stressed that in the absence of the Secretary General or a duly authorized acting official, the office cannot validly accept an impeachment complaint without risking procedural flaws.

“Accepting an impeachment complaint without the Secretary General would expose the House to procedural challenges and claims of irregularity,” Adiong said. “That would be a far more serious breach of duty.”

He said Garafil’s absence was due to a pre-scheduled overseas official engagement that was fully documented and publicly known. Adiong also noted that the House is currently on legislative recess, with many lawmakers attending to official duties in different parts of the country.

“There is no refusal to receive any complaint,” he said. “There is only adherence to the rules that govern how such complaints are properly received.”

Adiong further emphasized that the actions of the Secretary General carry the presumption of regularity. “In any case, ang mga aksyon ng Secretary General ay may presumption of regularity, maliban na lamang kung may malinaw at matibay na patunay ng masamang loob o intensyon na umiwas sa tungkulin, which has not been shown.”

He said filing rules exist to protect the integrity of the impeachment process. “Impeachment is a constitutional proceeding with grave consequences,” Adiong added. “It is governed by precision, not convenience. Compliance with the Rules is not obstruction—it is the Constitution at work.”