No plan to change impeach rules

An announcement by the leadership of President Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) of plans to amend the House rules on impeachment “is just an intrigue” aimed at further driving a wedge between the president and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

“The claim is not true. There is no intention at all to change the rules because an impeachment complaint has already been referred to the committee on justice. You cannot change the rules in mid-game,” Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said.

It was Kampi president and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte who announced earlier that the House was changing the rules on impeachment.

An impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo filed by lawyer Roel Pulido was transmitted to the justice committee on Oct. 11, just hours after congressmen received cash gifts of P500,000 each at Malacañang.

Gonzales said that by spreading the “false claim,” Villafuerte and other Kampi officers were hoping to deepen the animosity between the president and the Speaker.     – Eva Visperas