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Thursday, November 01, 2007
Stronger impeach raps readied v. Arroyo
MANILA -- The United Opposition (UNO) will file a "stronger impeachment" complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday, when Congress resumes its session after a two-week break.
Former senator and UNO executive committee member Ernesto Maceda said the complaint would include new incidents such as the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal and alleged pay-offs to lawmakers and local officials early this month after attending a meeting at Malacañang.
Malacanang's pardon order
Post comments here on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's grant of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada.
Governors Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga and Jonjon Mendoza of Bulacan revealed receiving P500,000 from a Palace official. The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) later said the money came from the group and was intended for "alliance and capability-building seminars."
"We already completed the stronger impeachment complaint. I have talked with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and it might be filed by Monday morning," Maceda said.
Binay is also the president of UNO.
Maceda said aside from UNO, party-list groups allied with the opposition like Bayan and Bayan Muna would lead the filing of the complaint before the House of Representatives.
Although they lack in numbers, Maceda is optimistic they might get the support of administration congressmen especially from the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats who are against moves to oust House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. from the post.
"We might be able to get a total of 80 congressmen especially if Malacañang presses moves against Speaker de Venecia," he said.
Effort of the opposition to impeach the President failed twice in 2005 and 2006 after it was not able to muster the required two-thirds number of signature in the House to endorse the complaint.
Reports of a possible rift between Lakas and its coalition partner, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), came into the open after several Kampi congressmen reportedly met with President Arroyo to ask for her support to their moves against de Venecia.
Kampi is the political party of Arroyo when she launched her vice presidential bid in 1998.
The rift started when de Venecia's son and namesake, businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, disclosed alleged irregularities, including bribery of several Cabinet officials, in the NBN contract.
Earlier, Binay said their complaint would effectively set aside a similar complaint filed by former Magdalo lawyer Rafael Pulido.
He cited the "illegality" of the Pulido complaint, which House Deputy Speaker Raul Del Mar endorsed to the House justice committee. It should be the Speaker who should endorse the complaint as mandated in the 1987 Constitution.
Pulido filed the impeachment complaint on October 5, while congressmen were winding down their special plenary session on the proposed 2008 General Appropriations Act. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (November 1, 2007 issue)
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