'Impeachment trial affecting quorum at House'

MANILA, Philippines - The ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the Senate is beginning to affect attendance of members at the House of Representatives in plenary session, but the chamber’s leadership is moving to rectify this, according to House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II.

Gonzales yesterday admitted that while there were more than enough lawmakers to constitute a quorum in the 284-member House, many leave the session hall after the roll call since the trial started last Jan. 16.

The presiding officer can suspend instead of adjourn the day’s session unless a House member objects to the move. Under parliamentary rules, once a session is suspended, it can be resumed anytime and allow the House to conduct its business, such as approving bills, even without the physical presence of lawmakers on the floor.

The last roll call was called on Monday and session has been suspended and resumed on Tuesday and yesterday. The plenary tackled the proposed Terrorist Financing Suppression Act on Tuesday and continued last night.

“At any rate, we were able to bring to the floor major bills, both in the list of priorities of the administration, the (proposed) Whistle-blowers’ Act and amendments to the Witness Protection Program law,” Gonzales told The STAR, adding that they will address the matter next week and do the roll call more frequently.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, an independent, said the Aquino administration’s “inordinate focus” on replacing Corona is taking its toll on the economy and legislative work.

“Major legislations stagnate as congressional prosecutors and senator-judges have assumed new roles outside of their traditionally mandated legislative functions,” Lagman said.

He said attendance in the House of Representatives has dwindled to less than the requisite quorum and committee hearings are sparsely attended since the impeachment trial started.

“Let the impeachment trial proceed and end as warranted without excessive fanfare and biased publicity,” he added.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said he predicted the impeachment trial would be counterproductive.

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay said the House hardly conducted committee hearings since Corona’s trial started.