Quisumbing denies impeachment bribe

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Sixth district Representative Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing strongly denied the statement allegedly made by ANAD Partylist Representative Pastor “Jun” Alcover that a P1 million bribe was reportedly given to congressmen who signed in favor of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment.

 “Such unfortunate statement of Representative Jun Alcover is absolutely untrue,” said Quisumbing, the grandson of Norkis Group of Companies chairman, Norberto Quisumbing. 

Quisumbing said there is no truth to Alcover’s allegations because the House of Representatives, through the leadership of House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, is strongly supporting President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s “Tuwid na Landas” campaign which is free from corruption.  

“The institution (House of Representative) is not susceptible to that kind of influence. We strongly support the vision of the president that a reform country is free of corruption,” the neophyte legislator said.

“Our endorsement of (Corona’s) impeachment is very good step in making sure the president’s agenda will be advanced,” Quisumbing explained why he, along with more than 90 congressmen, endorsed the Articles of Impeachment against Corona to the Senate.

Alcover, however in his website vehemently denied making such accusations. 

“I cannot understand where they got this wrong information or whoever feed this to them,” said Rep. Alcover as he stressed that not even a word, much more a phrase, can be found in ANAD’s press statement, posted in their website: www.anadpartylist.org dated Dec. 14, and those circulated to media personalities that would substantiate allegations that he accused President Aquino of bribing lawmakers in exchange for their signatures for the impeachment complaint against Corona.

Alcover explained that one of the concerns he raised in the press release was that some congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint told him that they were told to do so and that they can’t do anything about it with the 2012 PDAF and the additional P1 million for every congressman, dangled before them.

Aside from Quisumbing, four Cebuano lawmakers, Benhur Salimbangon (Fourth district), Rachel del Mar (Cebu City, North), Ramon “Red” Durano IV (5th district) and TUCP Representative Raymund Mendoza, also signed the impeachment complaint.

There were eight grounds for impeachment against Corona, who was impeached by the Lower House last month as according to the lawmakers who initiated the complaints, the Chief Justice is not a person of   proven integrity, probity, competence and independence.

Corona’s impeachment process is expected to take-off on January 15, 2011. (FREEMAN)