Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas Jr. Tuesday said some of the high court’s magistrates had gone too far in encroaching on the powers of Congress and were getting away with blunders without being penalized.

“It’s time to put them in their proper place,” he said.

Fariñas, vice chair of the House committee on justice, said he would file an impeachment case against some of the justices for betrayal of public trust in delaying the impeachment case against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Prosecutorial powers

“Congress has to fight to protect its power. We are not only into law making, we [also] have prosecutorial powers. We are the only ones who can investigate them,” he said.

Fariñas pointed out that some of the magistrates did not even read Gutierrez’s petition before granting the status quo ante order on the two impeachment complaints against her.

He also cited the high court’s other purported transgressions, such as plagiarism, flip-flopping on decisions, and corruption charges.

“I’m inviting all those who have a complaint against the high court to join me in my impeachment complaint so we can build a solid case,” Fariñas said.

He said the public should not view the action as a mere “tit for tat” between Congress and the high court.

He added that he would file the complaint next week, after the House had concluded its impeachment case against Gutierrez.

Public duty

At a press conference, Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said anyone who wanted to file an impeachment case against the magistrates could do so, but he stressed that the latter worked within the bounds of their public duty when they acted on petitions.

“Let’s just wait. I don’t know how he (Fariñas) intends to do it, or go about it, but I think he knows his law. He’s a seasoned politician, so that’s his decision,” Marquez said when asked to comment on the lawmaker’s remarks.

“That will be the discretion of whoever is calling for an impeachment. Perhaps he should be reminded that we have three branches of government, each functioning on its own with their respective mandates, and these three branches would have to function properly without each undermining the other,” Marquez said

Gil Cabacungan & Nikko Dizon, Phil. Daily Inquiirer