MANILA -- Chances of impeachment complaints against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pushing through are “slim to none,” said House Speaker Prospero Nograles Wednesday.

But a number of representatives called on fellow lawmakers to endorse an impeachment complaint against Arroyo following the report filed by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee implicating her in the anomalous broadband deal.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee also called for the prosecution of 12 other personalities, including whistleblowers Jun Lozada and businessman Joey de Venecia, and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

“The House cannot comment on Senate committee findings and vice-versa because of inter-parliamentary courtesy and respect for co-equal body in Congress. That's their call,” Nograles said.

Instead of grounds for impeachment, Nograles said the Congress expects that the Senate report will give to Congress the areas where specific legislation is needed so as not to repeat the same incidents and to plug loopholes in existing laws.

In case the impeachment complaint will be filed, it will be the fifth one since President Arroyo assumed the position. The last impeachment one was filed on October 13 last year and dismissed on November 26, 2008.

Rules on impeachment state that another impeachment complaint can be filed a year after the earlier complaint was filed.

One-third or 90 out of 268 representatives votes are needed to impeach the President.

For her part, Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros said time is not an issue with regards to the impeachment.

“Time has never been an issue. We could have closed this issue back in 2005. but the House chose to protect Arroyo instead. The House majority cannot suddenly use time as an excuse to block another impeachment complaint. It is our duty to tackle the impeachment complaint.

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said Arroyo's impeachment can serve as a "Christmas present for the Filipino people." (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)