WITH 215 congressmen officially signing as complainants and 25 more seeking to join, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers yesterday underscored the overwhelming mandate behind the impeachment complaint, calling it a clear and undeniable expression of the will of the Filipino people.

“The impeachment process is not just a political procedure, it is the voice of the Filipino people speaking through their elected representatives,” Barbers said.

“Halos 80 porsyento ng Kamara ang pumirma sa impeachment, higit sa 3/4 ng buong Malaking Kapulungan ang nagsabing dapat itong ituloy. Higit sa kinakailangang 1/3 para agad itong maisumite sa Senado,” Barbers stated.

Barbers stressed that this is not just a mere majority, but an overwhelming supermajority mandate, far beyond the constitutional threshold needed to advance the complaint directly to the Senate without requiring deliberation in the Committee on Justice.

“Hindi lang ito simpleng mayorya: ito ay isang matibay at napakalaking mandato mula sa mga halal na kinatawan ng taumbayan. Ito ang tinig ng mamamayang Pilipino,” he declared.

As members of the House of Representatives are elected to be the voice of their constituents, Barbers pointed out that this historic level of support for impeachment is a direct reflection of the sentiment of the Filipino people.

‘Ang bawat pirma sa impeachment ay hindi lang boto ng isang kongresista, kundi boses ng milyon-milyong Pilipino na aming kinakatawan. Ang mensahe ng taumbayan ay malinaw: kailangan ang prosesong ito,” he said.

Barbers explained that the large number of signatures is not a mere political move but a legitimate and constitutional exercise of power by the House.

“Ang Kongreso ay hindi nagdedesisyon para sa sarili lamang. Kami ay inihalal upang maging tinig ng ating mga kababayan. At sa pamamagitan ng napakaraming pumirma sa impeachment, malinaw na ang taumbayan mismo ang may nais na ituloy ito,” he added.

Barbers also emphasized that once an impeachment complaint is filed, Congress has no choice but to act on it, as required by the Constitution.

“Wala na itong atrasan. Konstitusyonal na tungkulin ito ng Kongreso. Ang impeachment ay hindi maaaring balewalain o idaan sa pulitika. Kapag naisampa ito, may pananagutan kaming iproseso ito ng maayos,” he explained.

He noted that this is one of the most strongly backed impeachment complaints in history, with signatures coming from different political parties, proving that this is not an issue of partisanship but a matter of duty.

“Kapag mahigit 3/4 ng mga mambabatas ang pumirma, malinaw na ito ay usaping pambansa, hindi pampulitika. Higit sa partido o alyansa, ito ay tungkol sa pagsunod sa batas at pananagutan,” Barbers emphasized.

With the impeachment complaint gathering way beyond the required votes, Barbers stressed that the process has taken a life of its own and cannot be stalled.

“Hindi ito pwedeng pigilan ng iilan. Napakarami ng bumoto, napakarami ng sumang-ayon. Ang impeachment ay hindi na mapipigilan dahil ito ay mandato ng napakaraming halal na kinatawan,” he said.

Barbers dismissed any claims that external forces pressured House members into supporting the complaint.

“Kapag 215 ang pumirma, at may 25 pang gustong sumali, hindi mo na puwedeng sabihing pinilit lang o minanipula. Ito ay tunay na panawagan ng Kongreso, na nagmula mismo sa ating mga kababayan,” he stated.

Now that the impeachment has been transmitted to the Senate, Barbers appealed to senators to recognize the overwhelming mandate from the House and allow the process to move forward fairly and without delay.

“Malinaw ang mandato ng Kongreso ngayon, Senado naman ang susunod sa proseso. Umaasa tayo na kikilalanin ng mga senador ang napakalakas na mensahe ng taumbayan,” he said.

“Sila po ang judge sa prosesong ito. Susunod lamang ang ating mga public prosecutors sa timetable na ilalatag nila,” he added.

Barbers assured the public that while Congress remains committed to its legislative duties, the integrity of the impeachment process will be upheld and will not be treated as a political game.

“Ito ay hindi laro ng mga pulitiko. Ito ay pagsunod sa batas. At ang batas, kailanman, ay hindi dapat balewalain,” he stressed.

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Jester P. Manalastas