For The Nth Time: Critics file impeach rap vs. Arroyo anew

CEBU - President Arroyo’s critics filed a new impeachment complaint against her yesterday, which is reinforced with new allegations of torture and disappearance of activists as well as cases of high-level corruption including the botched national broadband network project.

The complainants, led by businessman Joey de Venecia III, Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico and lawyer Harry Roque, had planned to file their petition over the weekend, but House offices were closed despite a promise of Speaker Prospero Nograles last Friday that they would be open.

The petitioners include Edita Burgos, Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeno, mothers of activists Jonas Burgos, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, who have been missing for more than one year now.

House Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Roque received the complaint at 7:40 in the morning, beating by 40 minutes a separate case filed by lawyers Oliver Lozano and Ely Pamatong.

The two lawyers used as basis for their complaint the botched memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The new impeachment complaint accuses Mrs. Arroyo of violating the Constitution by allowing extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, and illegal arrests.

The petitioners stressed that Mrs. Arroyo, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is ultimately responsible for the abuses of the military.

The authors of the latest impeachment case also accused the President of betraying public trust and committing graft in connection with the NBN and the Northrail projects.

They also wanted the president to account for the P728-million fertilizer scam in 2004, the “Hello, Garci” scandal in 2005, and the distribution of P500,000 in cash gifts to House members in Malacañang last year.

Joey III, son and namesake of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and the original whistleblower in the NBN-ZTE scandal, claimed that millions of dollars in commissions and kickbacks from the $330-million deal went to corrupt officials and their patrons.

The Northrail contract, on the other hand, was allowed to proceed without the requisite Monetary Board approval.

The 64-kilometer railway project was also deemed “grossly overpriced” by $15 million and a lot more expensive than the 2,000-kilometer Quinghai-Tibet system, which cost only $1.8 million per kilometer, they said.

The petitioners also said the P500,000 distributed among congressmen and local officials in Malacañang last year was tantamount to bribery.

The “Hello Garci” controversy erupted with the release of a recorded conversation between a female voice who sounded like Mrs. Arroyo’s and a male voice believed to be that of then election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

The taped conversation allegedly detailed Mrs. Arroyo’s plan to rig the results of the 2004 elections to ensure her victory against Fernando Poe Jr.

In June 2005, Mrs. Arroyo admitted making the call and apologized for her “lapse in judgment.” She did not identify the poll official.

Under House rules, Speaker Prospero Nograles has 10 session days to refer an impeachment complaint to the committee on justice. Congress is on recess and will resume its session on Nov. 10. 

Palace Unperturbed

Malacanang shrugged off yesterday the latest impeachment case.

“I think we have said our piece. Let’s not give importance to these antics,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said.

He said the Palace is more preoccupied with addressing the problems that may arise from the global financial meltdown.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio earlier said the Palace is confident that the House of Representatives “will dispose of it (impeachment complaint) with dispatch judiciousness and concern for the national interest.”

“It is bereft of any legal ground, as the President cannot be held legally liable for any of the issues raised, and the proximity of the 2010 (presidential) elections and the current global financial turmoil make such a move look absolutely unnecessary, distractive and destructive,” Claudio said.

Unlikely Critic

Former president Joseph Estrada emerged as an unlikely critic of the latest impeachment move.

“Whether or not (President Gloria Arroyo) is impeached, the people cannot be fooled. They have already impeached her as their president in their minds and hearts,” Estrada said.

“What the politicians and businessmen should focus on right now is how to ensure that the Philippines will not suffer too much from the effects of the global financial crisis,” he said. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)