Lawmaker bent on filing impeach case vs SC justices

MANILA, Philippines - Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali is apparently bent on filing an impeachment case against at least three Supreme Court justices.

He said yesterday he would still consider initiating an impeachment process despite the statement of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. opposing it.

He said he would file a complaint if he gets the signatures of one-third of the 289 members of the House of Representatives to send the case to the Senate for trial.

On Monday, Belmonte told reporters: “As Speaker, I’m against the exercise. Remember, I myself have been a key player in several of these impeachment cases, and to be very frank, I’m against the filing of any impeachment cases against any justices however much we may disagree, however much we are affected by their decisions.”

In late 2011, Belmonte led his colleagues in impeaching then chief justice Renato Corona. Six months later, in May last year, the Senate ousted Corona, convicting him for not declaring all his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The Speaker also spearheaded the impeachment of then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who resigned before the Senate could start her trial.

Umali has denounced the Supreme Court for “flip-flopping” on the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or congressional pork barrel, striking it down as unconstitutional in its newest decision three weeks ago.

He said in 2012 and two previous instances, the highest court upheld the constitutionality of the PDAF and even explained how it worked.