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Monday, July 25, 2005
40 solons file impeachment complaint against Arroyo
MANILA (Updated 10:40 a.m.) -- Opposition lawmakers filed an impeachment complaint Monday against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accusing her of vote-rigging and other allegations on the same day she was to deliver her State of the Nation address.
The complaint claims Arroyo "stole, cheated and lied" to obtain and hold power. Her aides have moved to block it on a legal technicality when Congress convenes following Arroyo's speech.
A summary of the complaint, seen by The Associated Press, accuses Arroyo of 10 major crimes including election fraud and corruption. It claims she can be impeached on at least four grounds.
"By so flouting justice and the rule of law, she has committed an unforgivable outrage against the Filipino people," it says.
Key impeachment charges against Arroyo:
Culpable violation of the Constitution: Arroyo allegedly undermined the independence of the Commission on Elections by calling an election official to discuss ways of ensuring her victory in last year's closely fought ballot, engaged in election fraud and used the military and police in her favor.
Betrayal of public trust: Arroyo allegedly obstructed justice by trying to cover up or block evidence against her and others in various investigations, and using a tampered audio recording. She also allegedly concealed ownership of various properties and business interests in the Philippines and abroad.
Bribery, graft and corruption: Arroyo allegedly approved contracts that were "manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government," including a China-funded rail project and an expropriated Manila airport terminal construction. Arroyo also allegedly accepted payoffs from illegal gambling through her family members and used the money to bankroll her campaign and bribe.
Arroyo has denied manipulating the May 2004 ballot by discussing vote counting with an election official before she was declared the winner. She said she's ready to face an impeachment trial to clear her name and has announced a "truth commission" also will probe the allegations against her.
Left-wing lawmakers have warned of a "people power" revolt - like those that ousted late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph Estrada in 2001 - if pro-Arroyo lawmakers, who have a strong majority in the House of Representatives, kill or weaken the complaint.
About 40 left-wing and opposition lawmakers broke into applause and raised clenched fists after filing the complaint in Congress. It must be endorsed by at least one-third of the 236-member House to be sent to the Senate for a trial.
Short by 39
Opposition Representative Alan Peter Cayetano said late Sunday the complaint was a few names shy of the required 79 signatories. He said he was confident the opposition would gather the rest in a few days. Otherwise the complaint would be referred to the House justice committee, where it could be watered down.
The new complaint would have to be merged into that of lawyer Oliver Lozano, who filed an impeachment bid on June 27 that is regarded as weak. Some pro-Arroyo lawmakers contend that under past impeachment rules, the opposition can't amend their complaint because Arroyo's lawyer filed a reply last week.
A pro-Arroyo lawmaker, Representative Prospero Pichay, immediately suggested that he and other allies of the president would block the complaint.
"This can't be allowed. This is not an amendment. This is an entirely new complaint," Pichay told reporters.
San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora said the impeachment charge was signed by 40 congressmen, 39 signatures short of the 79 votes needed to bring the complaint to the Senate.
He said the opposition is confident of getting 60 to 70 signatures on the amended impeachment complaint "in the next few days" and the 79 required signatures "in the next two weeks.
If the opposition failed to get the needed number of signatures, the complaint will be referred to the House committee on Justice. The Justice committee is composed of 60 congressmen and only three of its members belong to the opposition.
He also hoped that the impeachment rules used in the impeachment of former President Joseph Estrada will be approved and use for the complaint against Arroyo.
Street protests
Meanwhile, opposition Representative Rolex Suplico earlier warned of possible street protests.
"If there is no chance for our complaint to be accepted by the House, we intend to withdraw it and tell the people that there is no hope in the impeachment process," Suplico said. "We can now go to the streets."
Representative Roilo Golez said anti-impeachment efforts "could result in political extremism and severe instability."
"Those guilty of rigging the impeachment process should be held fully responsible for the highly likely political firestorm," he said, citing media reports that some lawmakers were being offered bribes to not back the impeachment bid.
"Our battle cry is that she stole, cheated and lied," Cayetano said. (AP/Sunnex)
(July 26, 2005 issue)
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President Arroyo speaks of division in country