Manila: The House Committee on Justice on Wednesday formally closed ranks behind four of its members named in the criminal complaint filed by lawyer Manases Carpio. During the resumption of the hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Manila Rep. Joel Chua moved that the panel adopt a collective manifestation of support for Batangas Rep. Gerville 'Jinky Bitrics' Luistro, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, and Akbayan Reps. Perci Cenda±a and Chel Diokno.
According to Philippines News Agency, Chua emphasized the importance of parliamentary immunity as enshrined in the Constitution, highlighting that the involved members were merely fulfilling their mandated duties. 'I would like to make a manifestation of support to the four members of this committee. Alam po ninyo meron po tayong tinatawag na immunity, parliamentary immunity sa atin pong Saligang Batas. Ito po ay ginagawa lamang po ng mga kasama natin ang kanilang tungkulin,' Chua stated.
The motion for collective support, seconded by Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union, was approved without objection. This moved the personal expression of solidarity into the formal stance of the entire committee. Luistro announced the formal adoption of the support motion after ensuring there were no objections.
The session resumed under significant legal and political pressure from Vice President Sara Duterte's camp, which has targeted committee members following the release and discussion of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)-related records in the impeachment inquiry.
Rep. Cenda±a, one of the named individuals, dismissed the complaint as an attempt to intimidate the committee following the revelation of concerning financial records. He asserted that the pivotal issue remained the uncovered records and their implications.
Rep. Diokno defended the panel's actions as being entirely legal and grounded in the Constitution and House impeachment rules, suggesting that the case against them served merely as a diversion. He cited constitutional protections for congressional members against being held liable for their speech or debates within Congress or its committees.
Rep. De Lima described the complaint as the latest in a series of legal tactics designed to distract and derail the committee from fulfilling its constitutional duty. She noted multiple petitions and cases already filed in various courts, which she viewed as attempts to divert attention from the main issue.
