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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Arroyo, senators downplay impeach raps
MANILA -- President Arroyo and administration senators are confident that the Supreme Court will be able to overcome the latest blow dealt against eight of its justices, including Chief Justice Hilario Davide.
Senators allied with Arroyo said Tuesday the impeachment complaint filed by the camp of jailed ex-President Joseph Estrada against the SC justices is a non-issue and a political move aimed at discrediting the present administration.
Arroyo, in a statement read by presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, insisted her government is legitimate, its legitimacy "upheld Constitutionally, accepted by all nations, and sustained in countless ways by unequivocal popular support."
"The Supreme Court will handily surmount this challenge," Arroyo said.
Senate President Franklin Drilon said he does not expect the complaint to prosper or even reach the chamber for lack of merit and time.
"Realistically, I don't think this will ever get past the House of Representatives. They themselves know this," Drilon said.
Another chapter
According to Drilon, the move is another chapter in the political destabilization plot of pro-Estrada forces to erode the legitimacy of the Arroyo administration.
Immediately after January 21, 2001, Drilon said 13 senators filed a resolution recognizing the legitimacy of President Arroyo's assumption into office.
"The 13 senators constituted majority of the Senate at that time, and subsequently the Senate certainly recognized President Arroyo as de jure President of the Republic. Therefore, the obvious attempt to erode the confidence of the people or the legitimacy of this government is nothing more than a political move," Drilon stressed.
In addition, said Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., the "timing of the complaint is in itself suspect."
"The former president is clearly backing the candidacy of some politicians who wish to run for public office next year. So, there is also political color in this," Magsaysay claimed.
Magsaysay said he hopes this controversy will not create a dent in the people's faith in the Supreme Court.
Former senator Rene Saguisag on Monday asked the Congress to impeach the eight SC justices for allegedly playing partisan politics to legalize Estrada's ouster in January 2001.
No repercussions
Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye believed the complaint would have no bad repercussions on the administration, citing "sources" who branded the complaint as baseless.
He also rejected the claims of the opposition that the book of Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban entitled "Reforming the Judiciary" is incriminating.
"We don't think so and there are views that assuming the opinion was expressed by one justice, we know the Supreme Court is a collegial body and it operates based on what is the major decision," he added.
He, however, declined to comment on claims of the Saguisag, one of Estrada's lawyers, that the book was published using funds of the Supreme Court and the other justices are aware of its contents.
Bunye, a former congressman of Muntinlupa, also refused to predict as to how the House of Representatives would decide or vote on the impeachment complaint.
"I do not want to answer for them but what we can just state is there are rules governing complaints of this type before the House of Representatives and as soon as the proper referral is made, then I believe the committee on justice should be the one to make a determination whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance," he said.
Reveal truth
Estrada, in an interview at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where he is under detention, said the impeachment complaint was filed in the hope that it would reveal the truth behind his ouster.
"At least the people would be enlightened when the issues are eventually debated in Congress," he said.
San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora dismissed claims of House majority leader Neptali Gonzalez II that the House is unlikely to act on the complaint due to lack of time.
He said that if Congress really wants to act on the complaint, "they can do it tomorrow (Wednesday)" adding that some administration congressmen are probably just trying to "kill" the complaint.
Zamora, who endorsed the complaint together with Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico and Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, expressed confidence that they would be able to get more than 60 congressmen to support the complaint.
Zamora, who was the executive secretary during the Estrada presidency, said he does not see his allies "marching back to Malacaņang" but added that pursuing the impeachment would ensure that future generations do not "suffer the same indignity we suffered." |
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