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House leaders slam 'hearsay' Duterte ouster raps

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1453689" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>BUMPY START. Several leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday assailed the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte, which they said was based on &quot;hearsay evidence.&quot;</p><p>House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas argued that Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano lacked &quot;personal knowledge&quot; of the allegations he made against Duterte, including the President&#x27;s supposed ties to a death squad, alleged endorsement of drug-related killings, hidden wealth and disadvantageous foreign policy.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/17/impeachment-filed-vs-duterte-in-house-over-drug-war">Impeachment filed vs Duterte in House over drug war</a></li></ul><p>Fariñas noted that Alejano based his allegations on media reports, the Senate testimony of self-confessed hitmen, unauthenticated bank documents and the affidavit of Senator Antonio Trillanes.</p><p>Alejano is an ally of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of Duterte&#x27;s most vocal critics in the Senate. The two were accused of leading several attempts to oust former president Gloria Arroyo when they were still with the military.</p><p>The complaint also includes questions by the Commission on Audit over the hiring of 11,000 &quot;ghost&quot; employees in Davao City.</p><p>&quot;Iyung narinig mo o nabasa mo sa diyaryo o naikuwento sa iyo -- that is hearsay evidence and that will not stand trial,&quot; Fariñas said.</p><p>&quot;If you have a complaint against an impeachable officer and your information [is] not of your own personal knowledge, let that person be the complainant and then you will endorse.&quot;<br/> <br/>Alejano himself admitted that his complaint was mainly based on &quot;open sources,&quot; but insisted that these could not be deemed hearsay because he personally reviewed that information.</p><p>&quot;I affirm the contents of the verification -- that I have personal knowledge based on facts culled from authentic records,&quot; he said.</p><p>Deputy House Speaker Fredenil Castro, however, moved for the dismissal of the complaint, saying that no complainant should use &quot;falsities and hearsay evidence&quot; in trying to oust public officials.</p><p>Among those who echoed Castro&#x27;s stand were Congressmen Harry Roque, Salvador Leachon and Rodante Marcoleta.</p><p>House justice panel chairman Reynaldo Umali then suspended the proceedings so his committee can hold an executive session.</p>

<p>BUMPY START. Several leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday assailed the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte, which they said was based on "hearsay evidence."</p>

BUMPY START. Several leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday assailed the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte, which they said was based on "hearsay evidence."