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Friday, September 28, 2007
Impeach raps filed v. poll chairman
MANILA -- An impeachment complaint was filed on Thursday against embattled Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. at the House of Representatives.
The basis of the complaint was the poll chairman's alleged brokering in the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications (ZTE) Corp.
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At 3:20 p.m. Thursday, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico filed the impeachment complaint against Abalos for alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust.
Suplico based his complaint on the testimonies made by businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairman Romulo Neri, newspaper reports, and others.
"This is a verified complaint, in the name of the Filipino people and for the Filipino people, to impeach and bring to trial Benjamin S. Abalos Sr., chairman of the Commission on Elections..." said Suplico.
Bukidnon Representative Teofisto Guingona III and Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casiño were the first two official endorsers of the complaint.
Zamboanga City Representative Isabelle Climaco sent her endorsement through fax and would take her oath Monday before House secretary general Roberto Nazareno.
In an interview before attending the budget hearing of the House sub-committee on appropriations, Abalos said there is obviously a "sustained and well-funded campaign to destroy me."
Abalos would not point his fingers at de Venecia III's Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI) but believed that House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Joey's father, will maintain his impartiality on the issue and that the complaint will not prosper.
"I rely on the integrity and independence of each congressman. I know that as a Speaker, he has many loyalists. I know ultimately that our congressmen have conscience," he said.
Abalos also rejected calls by his critics for him to resign. "I think you are my witness. This is not the first time they called for that (his resignation). I think this is just a repeated call."
He added: "If you were in my shoes would you? I don't think you would. There is a sustained and well-funded campaign to destroy me."
On allegations that he is allegedly maintaining a mistress, a certain Evelyn Catherine Silagon, Abalos said: "That's very, very unfair. But I'm still thankful because I have a very understanding wife. I pity her."
In the complaint, Suplico said, "The House of Representatives now faces a true test of character -- whether or not the political majority will allow the impeachment of a Presidential appointee."
The complaint quoted various newspaper reports on Abalos's alleged involvement in the deal that started with opinion column saying a high-ranking Comelec official has been frequenting China "for sex and money."
The complaint zeroes in on Abalos's involvement in the deal and Joey's testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee that the election chief had tried to bribe him with US$10 million in exchange for backing off the deal.
Suplico also used the testimony last Wednesday of Neri who accused Abalos of offering him a "200" bribe to favor the Chinese proponent of the project.
Neri, however, could not be sure if the figure that Abalos mentioned was in millions or thousands and if it was in dollars or pesos. He also could not recall the exact date of the meeting and the golf game.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol said Abalos would likely survive the impeachment complaint because there are not enough lawmakers to support it.
He said lawyer Oliver Lozano filed an impeachment complaint against the poll chief before but it was even returned.
The Constitution states that a verified complaint for impeachment shall be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days and referred to the appropriate committee for deliberations within three session days thereafter.
The committee, after the hearing and by a majority vote of all its members, shall submit its report to the House within 60 session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution which shall be calendared for consideration by the House within 10 session days from receipt, it said.
Suplico's complaint needs the signatures of at least one-third or 80 members of the House to constitute the articles of impeachment and a consequent trial by the Senate. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (September 28, 2007 issue)
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