Storycon | No mention of VP Sara’s impeachment at Palace fellowship – Rep. Luistro

uh of course we understand that there are things that you probably uh would not be too free to talk about but uh we'll try to push the envelope um there's a lot of discussion about know about whether or not the President should be taken literally when he says no impeachment uh at this point uh I'm wondering if that was discussed if that was also a topic last night in Malak kanyang with of course the Congress leadership because of course complain you're aware of that so everybody's watching and waiting actually what what was the president's pronouncement

to the media to the public about no impeachment as a matter of fact uh politically significant you what you call Fellowship except that we presented the resolution manifesting our support to the leadership of his Excellency president bong bong Marcos no as a matter of fact I do not intend to disclose really what happened last night CU it's not political it is just the usual visit to the president and in time for Christmas bu and some of us rendered a Christmas song and then we presented the resolution that we are manifesting our support no discussion at

all about the impeachment as a matter of fact most of us were anticipating really that somehow the president will make some pronouncement or guidance perhaps as to the two impeachment complaints which are pending already in the House of Representatives but uh apparently Wang discussion at all so Fellowship of the Ring discussion at all about the impeachment no so with his silence last night I think he is stand Standing with his prior pronouncement that he does not support impeachment because it does not help even a single Filipino I that's my understanding sir Ronald Congress congresswoman speculation

resolution of support Congress yeah we always do that from time to time no it's not only because there are challenges concerning the the uh issues on impeachment first termer but since I came in Congress it has been the practice of the majority now IR renew IR rekindle REM manifest suppor to the leadership of the president so I don't see anything unusual or special about the manifestation of support that happened last night it is the same manifestation of support that we've been doing since we assumed office back in July of 2022 okay that's fair if uh

if uh there was no discussion at all of there was no mention at all last night by the president of impeachment well let me put it this way n what about you po uh with your colleagues outside of any discussion with Malak kanyang as far as the possibility of impeachment is concerned especially in light especially in light of the president's earlier pronouncement um let us be reminded about the principle of separation of power yes ma'am uh we understand and we do recognize the prerogative of the president to maintain his position impeachment it it distracts the

Philippine Nation it does not help even a single Filipino here in our country we have to acknowledge the fact the same way up at the very least dalaw impeachment complaint which are already pending before us is a constitutional Duty on the part of the Congress up the only option is to take up and then when we take up we can either approve or disapprove that's my understanding Ed no so I believe understand Coles especially committee on Justice and even my chairman in the quadcom I had a chance chair and we are raising question but at

the end of the day we have a work to do and that is to take up the impeachment complaints that is the Constitutional Duty whether we approve or we disapprove that is a separate and a different matter which will happen first s committee on Justice and after which S plenary no yes ma'am I was reminded also the other day by my chairwoman in the committee on Justice The Honorable congresswoman Juliet fer o jinki you need to be active again in the committee on Justice we have a work to do uh particularly referring of course to

the impeachment complaints which are already pending before the house although to this date or as of yesterday I was in Congress I have no word yet whether the same was included already in the order of business for our session this coming Monday or on the days to come so discussion with our colleagues I think we share the same opinion we have a work to do this is a constitutional Duty and not withstanding the fact that the president made his pronouncement already we have to acknowledge the separation of power that is the stand of the president

per we have a work to do we cannot turn our back to our constitutional Duty and that is to accept and to take up the impeachment complaints indicative timeline indicative plan work to do session days this December Christmas some friends who are very good in singing a couple of friends who really sing well about the timeline sir Ronald no uh since I am a first termer I have not actually experienced PA how to be involved in this impeachment process no at least from the side of the Congress no uh but I understand now we have

a period of 10 days 10 days ma'am to include these impeachment complaints in the order of business no and then after the same is included in the order of business we have a period of three days to refer the impeachment complaints to the committee on Justice once in the committee on Justice it has a period of 60 days to resolve meaning after conducting hearings we have to vote whether to approve or not to approve the impeachment complaints uh sir Ronald mentioned about the the two uh impeachment complaints how do we do about it my understanding

is we have to consolidate it we have to review the grounds that were chosen by the complainants used by the complainants we have to see to it that the complaint are compliant with the form and substance so for capacity complain to file this complaint verified complaint grounds that is my understanding and about compliance with substance the grounds must be substantiated by facts and evidence as alleged in the complaint so once taken into consideration in the committee on Justice I believe that we have to consolidate these two impeachment complaints and we have to refer back one

impeachment complaint only to the plenary which will be due for approval by at least onethird of the members of the House of Representatives and going back to the yeah Congress minimum expect by by next week what what can happen of impeachment that you are consolidating already before the Christmas break we are a collegial body I am just one of the several members of the justice committee I'm just one of the several members of the 19th Congress of the Philippines so I can't I really cannot tell how many days will it take except uh by referring

to the number of days as provided in our rules I acknowledge that there will be some other admin matters to be taken up while while it is with the office of the SE gen until it is referred to the plenary until it is referred to the to the committee on Justice and until it it is referred back to the plenary no for endorsement to the Senate but my my personal from my personal standpoint no I wish to raise one legal issue before the 202 election after the Christmas break we still have January February March and

April no and the committee is given 60 days to to approve or disapprove the impeachment complaint that goes back to the plenary no issue Nang is suppose we refer it or we endorse it to the Senate before election after the 2025 election I am anchoring This legal question on the fact now sitting in the Senate and their terms are not interrupted by the 2025 election start 2022 and apparently by 2025 they are seating Senators because their term will end in 2028 P so I ask my colleagues has there been an impeachment process interrupt election before

election it was referred to the Senate and then after election Senate I asked some friends to to check with the Philippine Constitution with the rules and even the Juris prudence and our existing laws and Juris Prudence are all silent in other words this is a an issue which is new and still debatable so this is a legal question really that I wish to raise considering that everybody's talking about so my answer is if we're talking only about that portion of the Congress I believe Kay MH but the question is is it legally possible really now

after election Senate impeachment trial yeah yeah but uh sir ronal we have to consider back in22 interrupt Senate yes it's there in spite of the midterm elections so considering that the Senate also has a work to do endorse Congress are they still in the proper and legal position to continue with the impeachment trial not withstanding the fact prior 2025 midterm election I do not have an answer yet M that's an that's an interesting because December December 12 so time is also framework impeachment house January then before the ele up up at this point you are

correct about that we can take that route now approval plenary or while in the committee on Justice the impeachment complaint is able to solicit the support of onethird of the house members even prior to the conclusion of the committee on Justice I am assuming the normal route committee on Justice hearing for a period of 60 days at the very least no although I understand the same is all likewise extendable just like in any other committees no but you're asking sir Ronald about the indication I lament that I don't see any indication uh actually everybody is

asking what's going to happen with the with the impeachment trial my my instruction my Guidance the only reference that I can share with you is the same pronouncement that the president did in in his Public Announcement uh during his Pressa impeachment because it does not help the Philippine Nation no this is a constitutional Duty and to this date we have not convinced yet really guidance house on how we are going to take up this two impeachment complaints so the list we can do at least for me as member of the committee on Justice is to

make strict reference to what is provided under the Constitution and under the rules of the House of Representatives although you're very much correct sir Ronald the third mode of filing an impeach is when you file it by onethird of the house members in which case you do not need an actual full-blown hearing before the Justice committee and you can right away endorse it to the Senate and that will actually save so much time and if that happens yes I agree with you kakay with a period of three months to conclude the impeachment trial by by

the Senate no the remaining question I will still have time to to sit as or to as judges of the impeachment Court considering that we also need to prepare for the 2025 election I myself I am a candidate also for Batanga second district and I'm struggling for for my time for campaign because of the obligations that we have in the house of Representatives but at the end of the day I am inclined to believe constitutional duty to Congressman man or Senor man we should be ready to discharge our duty mam you raised an interesting uh

legal conundrum what happens after the elections whether or not existing impeachment complaint uh well the three of us of course we're not lawyers I think the three of us were working on the Assumption with the after the election just like any B it's still up in there still up for for legal discussion and legal resolution to be specificed sir Ed will will the disqualification for the next uh impeachment complaint apply mhm considering for purposes of trial so that is one question the second question is is the Senate still in the legal position to continue with

the impeachment trial considering that my 12 Senators whose terms were never interrupted by the 2025 election uh I'm sharing this to you guys Insight legal opinions legal luminaries here in the Philippines no I hope that in one of uh your programs we will be able to hear from legal luminaries or perhaps judges and lawyers this is something that need to be resolved by the Supreme Court yet I don't think so sir uh we are a lowprofile Batanga who was given this opportunity to join this uh this quad team and I am really grateful to my

chairman for giving me the trust and the confidence to be one of the interpolators and members of the quad unlearned anyway con supporting the text message of President Marcos impeachment you think thec will have a strong persuasive Powers house uh I have a high regard for Elan admirable Unity uh they they decide as one no they act as one they not sing anyone they're after the welfare of the Filipino people instead of divisiveness however in the face of that high regard in favor of the Inc we have a constitutional duty to take up this impeachment

complaints that is one thing whether we approve or we disapprove that is another thing persec perspec being the head of the Executive perspective having this constitutional duty to take up this impeachment complaints being a religious group have their own perspective as well priesse process even the Judiciary they have their own perspective so I think what is important we are honest to our to our duty to the Constitution and we will just have to to comply with our constitutional mandate let's just do good with our respective jobs and at the end of the day that is

the best interest of the Filipino people I agree and that we have different ways of how we appreciate and how we fight for the interest of this Filipino people I just hope that uh we find the common ground perspective since we have one goal s along the way we find one common ground even that pronouncement has different interpretations and vice president taken out of logical context no so subject to different interpretations and even the author of The pronouncement has a different interpretation no while everybody believes that that is an attempt to Assassin the president the

first lady and the house of speaker H author pronouncement because she's claiming that the interpretation of the president is outside its logical context it's because of it's because of uh what do you call this different political alliances because it also affects on how you appreciate things no pronouncement interpretation Pro Administration interpretation opposition that's how I understand it no but at the end of the day we are thinking individuals and everybody was able to hear that pronouncement I think what matters is and I wish to believe is there is really a threat against the president the

first lady and the house speaker um earlier this month Commission on audit uh what it calls an unmodified opinion 2023 spending ovp uh uh interpretation being it's an unqualified opinion irregularity for 2023 Ana for the ovp now that that opinion is being used uh by the by the ovps by the vp's supporters as supposed proof have to be sir Ed we have to be very specificed during the time of hearing I understand that there are standing audit observation memo pertaining to the 375 million confidential fund that were irregularly utilized by the office of the vice

president so what really are they pertaining to with respect to that unmodified opinion what is the original opinion that they are pertaining to when they when they are saying unmodified well the other thing I wanted to point out is um is it correct to say uh it's a different auditing unit that looks into confidential intelligence funds you I uh intelligence and confidential funds you are correct sir Ed no AIT regular funds AIT confidential intelligence fund EIT intelligence and confidential and we have to make sure Al unmodified opinion standing a as of the date of hearing

ovp I it pertains to the 175 million time 3 quarters equivalent to 375 million of the 2023 confidential fund of the the office of the vice president mhm M so it may be a different thing altogether I mean we may be looking at apples and oranges it could refer to a regular fund it could refer to a portion of the confidential fund we have to be specific Al pering to the audit of the budget of the office of the vice president M okay Christmas cards Ging malaky Christmas cards akas Christmas cards from malaky Instructions I

doubt if the president will ever give instructions CU even myself I was anticipating also that somehow I after that pronouncement we will be receiving instructions especially for us quad members no so I think text message yeah yeah that that is the instruction I believe that that the president is we have we have a duty to do so not withstanding the opinion of the president take up Congress impeachment complaints last question follow up earlier about statement cuz it was not a simple statement statement is the announcement that they are mobilizing their their locals against impeachment um

of course I'm wondering from your point of view uh would that have an effect on congressmen those are warm bodies that will go out into the streets and we've seen that as as late as 20 2015 traffic traffic uh so it does I don't know how that goes for for for people running for for for reelection in in in a few months sir Ed I am actually inclined to believe that uh this rally will have significant effect for reelectionist no stand impeachment whether a congressman running for reelection or a senator running for reelection this is

a thing that they have to consider as well considering the unity that the the nisto has been demonstrating in all matters including political concerns no so I I real politic factor to be considered by all reelectionist it's reality factored in higher purpose elction it will depend now really on the personal perspective priority is it your reelection or is it your personal belief on and conviction on the issue that is confronting pertaining to this uh impeachment complaints no okay okay thank you and thank you really for having me here I hope hope to join the program

personally virtually one of this days okay he would love that and let me greet of course my kababayan from abini ban San pasal San Louis Lobo Andy magang thank you for joining batang second district congresswoman J Jinky luistro