Sonny pressured allies to back impeachment

Former senator John "Sonny" Osmeña allegedly pressured his allied congressmen in Cebu to sign the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Arroyo.

One of Osmeña's allies, sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz, admitted that she was pressured by Sonny to sign the impeachment complaint, but she refused because she believes the complaint has no basis.

Ruiz, in an interview over dyLA yesterday, said Sonny might have pressured 3rd district Rep. Antonio Yapha and 2nd district Rep. Simeon Kintanar into signing the impeachment complaint.

But Ruiz said Kintanar assured her he will not sign the impeachment complaint. Yapha, in an earlier interview, said that he will decide on Monday whether or not to sign the complaint but admitted that Sonny might influence his decision.

Ruiz said Osmeña stopped communicating with her after she turned down his request to support the impeachment complaint. She added her decision to stand behind Arroyo not only affected her relationship with Sonny, but also severed her ties with fourth district Rep. Clavel Asas- Martinez.

"Dili na mausab ang akong baruganan," Ruiz said, even as the opposition launched an intensive effort to have more congressmen sign the impeachment complaint against Arroyo. The opposition needs at least 79 signatures to transmit the complaint to the Senate.

Among the congressmen mentioned by the opposition who are likely to sign the impeachment complaint on Monday were Yapha and Bohol Rep. Iladio Jala.

Jala, in an interview over dyLA yesterday, admitted that Akbayan partylist Reps. Loreta Ann Rosales, Mario Aguja and Riza Hontiveros Baraquel convinced him to support the impeachment complaint.

Although saying that he is still consulting his district leaders on the matter, Jala noted that he is not closing the possibility of endorsing the impeachment complaint.

But Jala added that his decision to abide by the ruling of the House committee on justice, of which he is a member, has not changed. - Fred P. Languido