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Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Arroyo critics walk out of impeachment hearings
MANILA -- A new impeachment complaint was filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday, even as a congressional body deliberated on an earlier complaint.
The House committee on justice Monday considered as sufficient in form the three-page complaint against President Arroyo filed by lawyer Rafael Pulido last month and is set to resume deliberations on its substance Wednesday.
Malacanang's pardon order
Post comments here on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's grant of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada.
Members of the opposition walked out of what they called the fraudulent proceedings by the committee, which earlier rejected the supplemental complaint filed lawyer Adel Tamano, spokesman for the United Opposition (UNO).
Despite this, militant groups filed another impeachment complaint against the President, accusing her of massive corruption, bribery, and human rights violations.
"This impeachment complaint aims to bring to the fore the crimes of one of the most corrupt and brutal presidencies in Philippine history," said the 110-page document.
In the tumultuous deliberation of the House committee on justice, Representatives Teofisto Guingona III of Bukidnon, Roilo Golez of Parañaque, Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna and other opposition members "disengaged" from participating in the proceedings.
"We cannot participate in this folly process," said Guingona who labeled Pulido's complaint, which was endorsed by Laguna Representative Edgar San Luis as sham.
The protest came when the committee, by a vote of 29-7, rejected the motion for reconsideration sought by the opposition over the earlier motion by Golez questioning Representative Matias Defensor's act of returning Tamano's supplemental complaint without consulting the panel.
Defensor is the committee chairperson.
"We can't go against the Constitution and even on the ruling of the Supreme Court. Apparently the House committee on justice can only entertain those that are referred. We can't just accept complaint and papers that do not have the referral of the plenary to the committee," Defensor said in his defense.
Golez insisted that Defensor does not have the authority to "unilaterally" dismiss the addendum complaint since this has already been filed before the committee and therefore, should be voted upon by members.
The situation was aggravated by the panel's second decision shooting down by a vote of 28-7 Guingona's motion seeking the inhibition of all congressmen who received cash gifts in Malacañang last October 11.
Defensor insisted that Guingona's motion was invalid since those who went to the Palace and received the money acted on their own.
"It was a personal decision," he said.
Pulido, who was just sitting behind Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casiño, said he chose to ignore the congressman's attacks, particularly to the accusation that he filed a "sham" complaint.
Meanwhile, the latest impeachment complaint -- which combines new allegations with some salvaged from the two failed bids -- accused Arroyo of violating the constitution, betraying public trust and being involved in corruption through five alleged criminal acts.
The new allegations include Arroyo's alleged failure to act on a bribery attempt linked to the national broadband network contract with a major Chinese telecommunications firm that the government endorsed.
The complainants also accused Arroyo of allowing bribes to be handed to lawmakers and local officials in Malacañang so they would oppose any attempt to impeach her.
They blamed Arroyo for a counterinsurgency policy that has allegedly allowed government forces to commit human rights violations.
The militant group Karapatan claimed to have documented more than 800 killings and 207 abductions of activists by suspected soldiers.
Pro-Arroyo lawmakers have said they would dismiss the new complaint because a separate one had already been filed with the House committee on justice, which can only examine one impeachment bid each year.
Casiño, who endorsed the new complaint, acknowledged that the opposition did not have enough votes to back the latest impeachment bid.
But he said it was another chance to focus public attention on Arroyo's wrongdoing. (Sunnex/AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (November 13, 2007 issue)
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