Even the man who will benefit the most from the move opposes it, said National Unity Party (NUP) lawmaker Elpidio Barzaga Jr. as the justice committee of the House of Representatives voted last week to throw out the three separate impeachment complaints filed against President Benigno Aquino III. 

The committee, chaired by Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas, voted to formally declare the three impeachment complaints against the President as insufficient in substance after a three-hour marathon hearing filled with heated debates between those who supported and opposed them.

Barzaga, who represents Dasmarinas City, noted that even Vice President Jejomar Binay,  who stands to gain the most if the complaints progress, has opposed the move.

"When we say that the people want this, what is your basis? Even the Vice President who will be the biggest beneficiary does not want this complaint to push through," Barzaga said during the hearing.

The committee tackled Impeachment Complaints 001 and 002, involving the President’s implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court; and Impeachment Complaint 003, which relates to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States.

Based on the impeachment rules, a sufficiency in substance is determined  if there is enough recital of facts or evidence that would justify the charges brought by the complainants, which were culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption.

The votes of  54-4 against the three complaints last September 2, 2014 bars the filing of any impeachment complaint against the President for a period of one year as provided in the Constitution.

The Tupas panel declared a week earlier  that the three complaints were sufficient in form.

Those who spoke against the complaints, besides Barzaga, were Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, Deputy Speaker Sergio Apostol, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales, Justice Committee Vice Chairman Rodolfo Fariñas, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, Rep. Miro Quimbo, Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali, Rep. Rodel Batocabe, Rep. Jerry Treñas, and Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, among others.

The endorsers of the complaints who also voted to declare them sufficient in substance were party-list representatives who belong to the Makabayan bloc. They are Bayan Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate and  Neri Colmenares and Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan.