By Gonzalo Duque

 

THE QuadCom hearings, which some people would like to call as Tuwad Com hearings, of the House of Representatives, have been finally unmasked.

They were actually organized to prepare the possible impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

This was revealed by no less than Rep. Joel Chua of Manila, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountabilities, when he was interviewed by Ted Failon of Channel 5.

Now, they (Quad Com) issued a subpoena or letter to former President Digong, who earlier snubbed them, stating among others that there is no more need for him to appear in their committee to hear his side, because appearing in their committee will only be an exercise in inutility on the part of the committee.

Mukhang napahiya sila ano?

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The 60-day suspension order issued by the Office of the President against Councilors Redford Erfe-Mejia, Alipio Serafin Fernandez, and Victoria Czarinna Lim-Acosta has been a long time in coming.

Since day one of Mayor Belen’s administration, they had been obstructing or sabotaging her programs, projects and the approval of the annual budgets, and supplemental budgets all meant to benefit the 180,000 people of our city, especially the poor and the dispossessed.

I guess that even before the 60-day period expires, the Office of the President through the DILG, will surely find enough justification in finding the councilors guilty of the administrative offenses they are charged therein.

It would also be appropriate if the Court hearing the criminal aspect of the cases filed against them will render a guilty verdict.

If this happens, such judgment will disqualify them from holding public office now and in the future depending on the penalty imposed.

It might even be a case involving moral turpitude, depending on the criminal case or cases filed with the Court.

I was informed that the last session in the Sanggunian made the situation of the majority even worse.

After the suspension of the three honorable councilors was read by City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo, the three were not allowed to participate in the session anymore and sat down in the gallery while the other majority councilors — Honorable Celia Lim, Honorable Dada Reyna, Honorable Alvin Coquia, and Honorable Marilou Fernandez — still participated in the proceedings.

When the roll call was made, the four registered their presence. They could have walked out of the session hall before that roll call, thus making the certification of quorum questionable.

But because they still registered their presence, a quorum was declared, allowing the SP to transact the business of the day.

The walkout that they staged later on, according to my source, was prompted by a motion of Councilor Michael Fernandez for the adoption of new House Rules, which was vehemently objected to by Honorable Dada Reyna.

The objection was noted but the voting was made and surprisingly, the four opposition councilors opted not to participate in what they claimed to be illegal proceedings.

Too late na kayo. The walkout or non-participation in the proceedings was a Johnny-come-lately act.

As I’ve said, the four should have walked out earlier.

It seems that with what had happened, God is no longer smiling at the former majority in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod.

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The visit of President Bongbong Marcos and his First Family to Iglesia Ni Cristo Chief Minister Eduardo Manalo is an acknowledgement that the INC vote carries weight in Philippine elections.

But wait a minute! The Quad committee has removed Congressman Rodante Marcoleta from his committee chairmanship and vice chairmanship and practically in all the committees of which he is a member.

And we all know, the Honorable Congressman Marcoleta is a member of the INC, same as other party lists congressmen representing the El Shadai (is it Lito Atienza?) and Jesus is the Lord of Congressman Eddie Villanueva.

I believe that Bongbong does not want to commit the same mistake that the administration of PNoy made when it unnecessarily involved itself in the INC internal squabbles.

When INC decided to support Digong in the 2016 presidential election, PNoy rushed to the INC headquarters and visited the chief minister begging for their support. He was flatly told that they could no longer change their decision to support Digong.

It’s happening all over again in the case of Congressman Marcoleta.

My unsolicited advice to the Bongbong administration is to stop all the congressional investigations and hearings, otherwise the wrath of the INC will be unleashed on them.

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