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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
House justice panel okays impeach dismissal
MANILA -- The House committee on justice approved on Monday its committee report dismissing the so-called “sham” impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Rafael Pulido against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for lack of substance.
With the overwhelming support of President Arroyo’s allies and the absence of opposition members who earlier staged a walk-out, the panel approved its report that will be submitted for plenary actions on Wednesday.
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Laguna Representative Edgar San Luis, impeachment endorser, dissented to the panel’s ruling, adding that he is reserving his right to explain his side during plenary consideration of the report that already gave President Arroyo almost one year-protection on facing another complaint or until October 11, 2008.
The House justice panel voted 43 against one last week to junk the Pulido complaint after the minority bloc decided to boycott the proceedings.
The panel also approved Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s motion seeking to include in page nine of the committee report the reasons of the panel in affirming the authority of Quezon City third district Representative Matias Defensor, chairman of the committee, to unilaterally return the addendum impeachment complaint filed by opposition lawyer Adel Tamano after it did not pass through the office of House Secretary General Roberto Nazareno.
Romualdez cited the possibility that the opposition may take the issue before the Supreme Court (SC) and the absence of reasons to the committee report could be used as technicality to get back at Defensor’s action, which was affirmed by the committee through 29 against seven votes during the first hearing last November 12.
“Thereby, the committee overwhelmingly confirmed the authority of the chairman and ratified his acts of returning the addendum/supplement to the Pulido complaint,” said part of the amendment that Romualdez requested. “Similarly, the committee affirmed the acts of the secretary general with respect to the Pulido complaint.”
Earlier, Defensor explained that his committee is only following the rule of law, Constitution, and the SC.
“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,” said Defensor.
Planned boycott
Meanwhile, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, vice chairman of the House committee on justice, berated the opposition on its planned action boycotting the plenary debates on the impeachment complaint.
Lagman stressed that such action is a “face-saving” move from people whose efforts are doomed to fail.
He believed that the boycott is just being used as a convenient excuse or alibi for them to attend deliberations on the sham impeachment complaint.
Lagman issued his statement in reaction to Parañaque City Representative Roilo Golez’s and Cibac party-list Representative Joel Villanueva’s pronouncement that the minority bloc will not participate in the plenary debates for the Pulido complaint.
“That is only face saving of those who are unable to get things done either for lack of compliance or lack of support. Boycott is the excuse of the weak and it is the way out of imminent defeat,” he said.
Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles, an administration ally, said the House minority bloc is still divided and confused on their plans to support or not the impeachment complaint because of their lack of numbers.
“I think they were really divided to file, support etc. because they know it is futile without numbers. Congressman Ronnie Zamora (San Juan) already said so long before,” he said. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (November 20, 2007 issue)
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