House justice panel says impeachment complaint vs De Castro, 6 other SC justices sufficient in form

September 4, 2018

The House committee on justice declared Tuesday the consolidated impeachment complaint against the seven justices of the Supreme Court (SC) is sufficient in form.

The panel chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon will meet on September 11 to determine whether the consolidated impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo is sufficient in substance.

The impeachment complaints filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano were consolidated first by the Leachon panel before it determined its form.

No panel member who attended the hearing objected to the motion of Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal to declare the consolidated impeachment complaint sufficient in form after finding this verified.

“All these complaints have met the requirement of sufficiency in form,” said Oaminal.

Lagman agreed to Oaminal’s position that the consolidated impeachment complaint was a verified one.

"The standard requirements of a valid verification are: the allegations are true and correct based on the personal knowledge of the complainants," said Lagman.

"The truth and correctness of the complainants' averments are additionally based on their appreciation of the authentic records and documents, which are attached to the complaint. The verifications in the separate complaints precisely affirmed and complied with the foregoing requirements."

If the panel finds the consolidated impeachment complaint as sufficient in substance, Leachon said his panel will invite the seven SC officials to attend the hearings. DMS