President Benigno Aquino (Photo by Gil Nartea)
The Philippines House of Representatives on Tuesday dismissed three impeachment bids against President Benigno Aquino.
The House justice committee, dominated by presidential allies, voted 54-4 to junk the complaints, calling them "insufficient in substance."
The first two complaints were filed against Aquino in July for alleged violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over his role in a budget-spending program known as the 'pork barrel' scheme.
The other complaint was filed in August over Aquino's signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between Manila and Washington.
Religious leaders, academics and various civil society leaders earlier signed the impeachment complaint.
The decision to dismiss the impeachment bids was met by protests from activists who were able watch the proceedings.
"This is a terrible day for the Filipino people," said Rep Neri Colmenares of the Nation First Party who endorsed one of the impeachment complaints.
Rep Terry Ridon of the Youth Party said it was "apparent that the allies of the president had already made up their minds on how to vote".
"Congress has played blind, deaf and mute to the clamor of the Filipino people for justice," he said.
Victor Villanueva, principal complainant in the pork barrel impeachment complaint, said the result of the impeachment proceeding "did not dampen the youth’s resolve to fight the pork barrel system."
"Instead, the injustice committed… has just strengthened the youth’s resolve to topple this moribund administration," he said.
Rep Niel Tupas, chairman of the justice committee, said the decisions could still be reversed, but added that the committee decision was "a reflection of the sentiment of the entire House."
He said his committee would release a report on the outcome of Tuesday’s hearing.