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Sunday, June 25, 2006
Palace urges foes to put off filing of impeach raps v. Arroyo
CLAIMING that the people should rally behind her when she is abroad, Malacañang now wants foes of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to defer the filing of an impeachment complaint against the Chief Executive at least until after she returns.
Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said Saturday the opposition should consider what is best for the country at this time, adding there is a "proper time" for such things.
Arroyo is due to leave for Spain, Italy and the Vatican on Sunday. Her foes are to file the complaint on Monday.
"Unang una, papaalis ang Pangulo (First off, the President is leaving for abroad). Everyone should rally behind the President, whether you're administration or opposition," Defensor told reporters in Malacañang before Arroyo signed the death penalty abolition law.
He said he and his colleagues "deferred" action against then President Joseph Estrada when he left for abroad in late 2000 although they never stopped criticizing Estrada even when he was abroad.
On the other hand, Defensor said Arroyo is due to return in a week so there is plenty of time to lodge the new complaint.
Defensor's request came less than a week after Arroyo's lawyer Romulo Macalintal asked the Lower House to junk the new impeachment complaint because the old one is still "alive".
Authors of the new impeachment complaint plan to lodge it before the Lower House on Monday, to prevent a repeat of last year's incident wherein lawyer Oliver Lozano beat them to the draw in filing an impeachment complaint that they described as "weak". (JMR/Sunnex)
(June 25, 2006 issue)
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