ACTING on explicit instructions from Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Sunday vowed to include in the order of business for referral to the House committee on justice the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Mario Victor F. Leonen within three session days.

Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said the referral of the impeachment complaint against Leonen will be discussed by his committee.

“Last March 25, Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco transmitted the impeachment complaint filed by Mr. Edwin M. Cordevilla and endorsed by Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba to our committee. We will act on it and include it in the order of business,” said Romualdez a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).

At the same time, Romualdez said the House of Representatives will prioritize the passage of the P405.6-billion Bayanihan 3 upon the resumption of its three-week session on Monday before the Congress’ sine die adjournment on June 4.

“We need Bayanihan 3 to help ensure that the economy recovers quickly from the coronavirus disease-19-induced crisis in a strong, sustainable, and resilient manner,” Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), stressed.

“We only have three weeks to pass this vital measure that will help our fellow Filipinos who are all affected by the pandemic, and we are confident that before we adjourn, we will be able to pass the measure,” said Romualdez.

“The House Committees on Social Services, Economic Affairs, and Ways and Means have approved the Bayanihan to Arise As One Act or Bayanihan 3 but it still has to go through the Committee on Appropriations,” Romualdez explained.

Romualdez also said the House of Representatives will continue deliberating Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) Number 2 to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said he hopes that lawmakers will vote for the passage of RBH No. 2 on third and final reading before adjourning sine die.

“We still have seven interpellators. Hopefully before sine die adjournment, we will be able to vote on the measure on third reading,” said Garbin, a lawyer.

Romualdez also reported that the Chamber’s productive sessions resulted in the passage of 39 national laws.

“We are proud of the accomplishment of this Chamber, our hard-working representatives, and secretariat. During the First and Second Regular Sessions of the 18th Congress or from July 22, 2019, to May 11, 2021, a total of 11,107 measures were filed, and 9,302 of which were House bills,” Romualdez said. “All in all, we processed 3,316 measures during our 80 session days or an average of 41 measures per session day.”

“Under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco from October 12, 2020, to May 11, 2021, 1,458 bills and 482 resolutions were filed. The total number of measures processed is 1,443 in just 12 session days or an average of 120 measures processed per session day,” he added.

“The House of Representatives has worked tirelessly towards the passage of vital legislation such as Republic Act No. 11509 or the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program, RA 11510 or An Act Institutionalizing the Alternative Learning System in Basic Education for Out-of-School Children and adults, RA 11517 which authorizes the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund act, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE Law, the 2021 national budget and other measures for COVID-19 such as the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, the FIST Act, and Bayanihan 2,” Romualdez said.