‘Serial impeachment filing a gimmick’

The serial filing of impeachment complaints against President Arroyo is a "publicity gimmick" on the part of the opposition, her House allies claimed yesterday.

They made the claim in reaction to the filing of a second complaint against the President by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. Critics of Mrs. Arroyo planned to present an impeachment petition every day this week to preempt the filing of a "bogus" complaint by "paid hacks" of the administration.

Last year, Marcos loyalist lawyer Oliver Lozano jumped the gun on opposition congressmen by submitting to the House his own complaint ahead of them. The Lozano case was eventually dismissed, while the opposition complaint was declared a "barred" petition.

Representatives Federico Sandoval II of Malabon-Navotas and Isidoro Real of Zamboanga del Sur said the objective of the President’s critics in filing basically the same complaint every day is to gain as much media mileage as possible.

"This masks the weakness of their complaint against the President," they said.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon said impeachment complainants should take the word of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and House Secretary General Roberto Nazareno that their complaint was the first case filed against Mrs. Arroyo after the one-year impeachment ban lapsed on Monday and would be the first to be referred to the committee on justice when Congress convenes later next month.

He said the assurance of House leaders should have been enough.

Other Arroyo defenders joined their administration colleagues in belittling the two complaints against the Chief Executive, vowing to kill them as soon as possible.

"These complaints face an early death," said Representatives Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City and Anthony Miranda of Isabela.

"An early death of these complaints is the best gift that the House can give the Filipino people who are suffering from an overdose of partisan politics," they said.

Miranda and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) colleague Rep. Victor Sumulong of Antipolo City warned opposition congressmen and administration critics who would claim that the President’s allies are getting bribes for defending her.

While they kept silent about such innuendoes last year, Arroyo allies said they will not take such allegations quietly this time and would file charges against those making them without presenting proof.

"There will be no leniency this time. There will be no room for forgiveness if we want to preserve the honor of the House," they said.

Last year, one party-list congressman who endorsed the opposition complaint said in a news conference that administration emissaries offered him millions in pesos and cash and pork barrel funds to desist from signing the petition. He later withdrew his signature.

Administration congressmen have belatedly admitted receiving P35 million in additional pork barrel allocations for killing all three impeachment cases against the President last year.

Aside from funds, Arroyo defenders wangled other concessions, including appointments for relatives and friends, assignment of favorite officials to their districts, and the reassignment of uncooperative bureaucrats.