Estrada calling solons to oust Villar

President Estrada has reportedly taken a direct hand in removing Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. and regaining control of the House of Representatives in what opposition congressmen describe as an effort to sabotage the impeachment process.

A House leader who belongs to Villar’s group told reporters yesterday that Mr. Estrada has allegedly been calling Villar supporters, asking them to vote for the ouster of the Speaker.

The lawmaker, who did not want to be identified, said the President called two Visayas congressmen last Thursday, pleading for their support in regaining the administration party’s control of the House.

"I think my two colleagues will still vote with us in thwarting the plan to delay the impeachment process or altogether kill the impeachment complaint," he said.

He also said a religious sect supporting the President is employing pressure to convince some congressmen to support the oust-Villar move.

This group was a major participant in yesterday’s pro-Estrada rally, he added.

The House leader’s revelation was corroborated by Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon).

"Embattled Erap has been working the phones, calling every congressman in his waning coalition to junk Speaker Villar," Zubiri said.

He said the President has also been inviting to a "midnight rendezvous" lawmakers whose support he is soliciting.

He urged his colleagues to reject Palace intervention in the internal affairs of the House, saying the chamber is not a "Malacañang subsidiary."

Allies of the President who are plotting to take over the leadership of the House so they will have a free hand in naming the impeachment prosecutors are scheduled to conduct a straw vote today to decide who they will field against the Speaker tomorrow, when Congress resumes session.

The straw vote will be conducted at the exclusive Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, Makati City. After the balloting, the presidential allies are scheduled to motor to Malacañang for an 11th hour meeting with the President.

They told reporters last Friday that Mr. Estrada will have the final say on who they will vote as Speaker, although they profess that the Palace is not involved in the oust-Villar plot.

Villar shared the assessment of opposition congressmen that the President’s men want to regain control of the House so they can name prosecutors who are sympathetic to the President.

"How can you effectively prosecute the President if you are pro-administration? The people cannot expect a fair trial if prosecutors are for the President," he said.

Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella (LAMP, Camarines Sur), one of the leaders of the group seeking to remove Villar, reiterated that they are not out to delay the transmittal of the impeachment complaint to the Senate tomorrow.

"The Filipino people have our word that we will transmit the complaint and endorsement to the Senate on Monday," he said.

However, he said they want the leadership question tackled ahead of the impeachment issue.

Another plotter, Rep. Anthony Dequina (LAMP, North Cotabato), told radio station dzmm Friday that once they are in control, they will choose a prosecution panel dominated by pro-Estrada congressmen.

But the panel will "include the opposition, hindi lang mayorya (not only the majority)," he said.

The pro-impeachment camp is insisting that the panel of prosecutors should not include anyone of those opposed to impeaching the President.

Rep. Ralph Recto of Batangas, one of the endorsers of the impeachment complaint, said a prosecutor should believe in the articles of impeachment and not in the party being impeached.

It is therefore the height of "intellectual dishonesty and simple sabotage" if allies of the President will insist on their inclusion in the panel, he said.

"They should not even be given the benefit of the doubt. Their insertion into the team poses a clear and present danger to the impeachment case," he said.

Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur said Malacañang does not want any of the members of the House minority to be named prosecutor.

He said replacements for opposition representatives in the panel have already been handpicked by the Palace.

"But we don’t know if these guys will ask the President tough questions or for his autograph, if they cross-examine him or commiserate with him," he said.

Rep. Ranjit Shahani of Pangasinan told fellow lawmakers that the House will be placed in "disgrace and shame" if the Palace succeeds in ousting Villar and naming its own prosecutors.

"The worst thing we can do is to spoil the pride and honor Villar had brought to us in his decision to expedite the impeachment process. We cannot be heroes last Monday and then transform into political vultures the next day," he said.

Earlier, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the united opposition is for the retention of Villar and Senate President Franklin Drilon, who, she said, both did a "heroic act" by bolting the ruling coalition and supporting the impeachment process.

On Friday, House Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the Palace crisis committee headed by Ambassador Ernesto Maceda is orchestrating efforts to subvert the impeachment process.