A YouTube video claims that SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has been removed from office. This needs context. Marcoleta was axed as vice chairperson of a committee in the House of Representatives, not as a member of the Lower House.
Uploaded on Sept. 19, the video’s headline read:
“SINIBAK NA SA PWESTO! VP SARA DUTERTE NAGULAT! MARCOLETA TANGGAL NA! PINABABA NA SA PWESTO (Axed from his post! VP Sara Duterte was shocked! Marcoleta was removed! Asked to step down from office)!”
Its thumbnail bore the text: “SINIBAK SA PWESTO! MARCOLETA TANGGAL NA? VP SARA DUTERTE NAGULAT! PINABABA SA PWESTO (Removed from his post! Marcoleta was fired? VP Sara Duterte was shocked! Asked to step down)!”
Marcoleta was only removed as vice chairperson of the House committee on good government and public accountability on Sept. 4, records from the House journal show. He was replaced by Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin.
On Sept. 25, Marcoleta was also stripped of his membership in five House panels, such as the Committees on Energy, Justice, Public Accounts, and Constitutional Amendments, as well as the Commission on Appointments.
Marcoleta remains a member of the Lower House. There was no move from fellow lawmakers to expel him from the chamber. According to Article VI, Section 16.3 of the Constitution, only with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members that a member of the House or Senate may be suspended or expelled.
The video emerged after Marcoleta asked Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua during a Sept. 18 House hearing on the Office of the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, if his removal as vice chairperson meant that he is no longer a member of the good government panel.
Chua, the committee’s newly-appointed chairperson, said that because Marcoleta was originally appointed to the committee as vice chairperson, his removal from the post meant that he is no longer its member.
Uploaded by previously fact-checked YouTube channels Boss Balita TV and BALITA NI JUAN, the video has drawn over 154,356 interactions. Facebook users also reposted the link.
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