PUBLIC TRUST AND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

According to Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all
times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives. The concept of the public trust
relates back to the origins of Democratic Government and it’s seminal idea that within the public
lies the true power and future of a society, therefore whatever trust the public places in its
officials must be respected. That the interest is vested in an uncertain and fluctuating body.
Public service is a public trust requiring you to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and
ethical principles above private gain. You shall not hold financial interests that conflict with
conscientious performance of duty. You shall put forth an honest effort in the performance of
your duties.

Impeachment has been defined as a national inquest, thus it is necessary to make sure that the
public officers have the moral fitness and integrity Some top officials may enjoy the immunity
from suit while in the office but this does not get them completely off the hook. Impeachment in
the Philippines is an expressed power of the Congress of the Philippines to formally charge a
serving government official with an impeachable offense. After being impeached by the House
of Representatives, the official is then tried in the Senate. The 1987 Constitution lays down rules
to make them accountable through the process of impeachment.
Who can be impeached ?
Section 2, Article XI of the Constitution says that the President, Vice President, members of the
Supreme Court, members of constitutional commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed
from office via impeachment. Only one complaint can be filed against an impeachable official
per year – if an impeachment complaint does not prosper, a second complaint cannot be filed
within the same year.
Who can file?
Any member of the House of Representatives can initiate a verified impeachment complaint.
Any Filipino citizen may also file a complaint, which should be endorsed by a House member.
At least one-third of House members may likewise file a verified complaint or resolution of
impeachment. Given the 292 members of the House at present, this translates to at least 97
members.
Grounds for impeachment
An impeachment complaint can be filed on any of the following grounds:
 Culpable violation of the Constitution
 Treason
 Bribery
 Graft and corruption
  Other high crimes
 Betrayal of public trust
Receipt of complaint
A verified impeachment complaint should be filed with the Office of the Secretary General of
the House. It would be immediately referred to the Speaker. Within 10 session days from receipt,
the Speaker shall include it in the House's Order of Business.
From House to Senate
After conducting hearings, the justice committee should file, within 60 days from referral, a
formal resolution to the House plenary regarding the impeachment complaint. If there is probable
cause, the committee will also submit a resolution setting the Articles of Impeachment. At least
one-third of House members voting for the Articles of Impeachment will be needed for it to be
endorsed to the Senate. This is equivalent to 97 members of the current House.
Impeachment trial
The Senate will try and decide all cases of impeachment in a full-blown trial. In case the
President is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will preside over the proceedings. If
two-thirds of Senate members vote to convict an impeachable official as outlined in the Articles
of Impeachment, he or she will be removed from office. This translates to 16 out of the 24
current members of the Senate.

BAGUILAT,KHATE RYZA
BASTIAN,JAZEEL
BANDIWAN,ANGELIKA JOY
CANAO,JIMMY
FONTANILLA,CHESTER
GAONA,JAYMAE
OBICE,TOM JOSEPH
PUMIHIC,RICO CHET
SALLY,KIEL ANGELO
TOLENTINO,ADORAS NICO