|
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Lawyer vows to keep impeach raps v. Arroyo
MANILA -- A lawyer who filed an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said he would not back out, adding that the planned filing of the United Opposition (UNO) of a similar complaint is already doomed.
Rafael Pulido, who once served as a lawyer for Magdalo soldiers, said the so-called “stronger” complaint from UNO is no longer an issue after his complaint was referred to the House committee on justice, signaling the start of one year ban on filing a similar complaint against the President since Thursday last week.
Join forum on Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict on Estrada plunder case. Post comments here.
“That is their (opposition) problem. If they are really serious to impeach the President, why would they file a complaint only now,” he said.
Pulido filed on October 5 the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo for betrayal of public trust in relation to the cancelled National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunications (ZTE) Corporation, which was endorsed by Laguna Representative Edgar San Luis.
Pulido has been tagged as the new “Oliver Lozano” who is reportedly out to sabotage the process and give the President a protection like what Lozano allegedly did when he filed the impeachment complaints in 2005 and 2006, which resulted in its immediate dismissal for being alleged “sham” complaints.
Death threats
In a news forum, Representative San Luis said he is not also withdrawing his endorsement.
He also revealed that he has been receiving death threats through text messages and even calls from cellular phone.
According to him, his wife has been traumatized by the death threats since her father, a former vice mayor in Lubao, Laguna, was shot dead.
San Luis, son of former Laguna governor Feliciano San Luis, said he has no idea on who could be behind the death threats.
The opposition on Tuesday night said it is filing its own complaint on November 5, which will include Malacañang’s alleged bribery of congressmen and local government officials last Thursday amid threats to the leadership of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
The Speaker initially refused to refer the complaint to the appropriate panel for deliberation but was forced to do it on October 11 after meeting Arroyo in Malacañang.
In the Ernesto Francisco case in 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that the impeachment complaint is deemed “initiated” once the House in plenary refers it to the committee on justice.
Pulido said the UNO should be blamed for being not too quick in doing their job as critics of the government.
Not distracted
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said its officers and men would not be distracted with the alleged bribery by Malacañang of some politicians and local government officials to kill the latest impeachment complaint filed against President Arroyo.
AFP public information officer Bartolome Bacarro said while the soldiers may be discussing the issue in informal talks, this does not necessarily mean that they would rebel against the government.
“Indeed our soldiers are aware of these issues that are coming out and this could have been subject of some discussions during informal discussion,” said Bacarro of the bribery issue. The AFP has at least 120,000 officers and men at present.
He added: “But one thing is sure -- that this (issue) will not in any way affect our soldiers in terms of the performance of their duties and they will remain focus on doing their jobs. So the possibility of having violence is very far-fetched.”
Bacarro also said the four junior military officers who were discovered recruiting fellow officers last month for the launching of a new destabilization move against the Arroyo government are not capable of unleashing violence.
“Could they create an atmosphere or an environment of violence, I don’t think so,” said Bacarro of the four officers who are under surveillance as the military establishment is building up a case against them, possibly before a court martial.
Bacarro also downplayed the possibility of having a civil war. (VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (October 18, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
