Speaker says impeach bid against Noy likely to fail

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday expressed doubts that any impeachment move against President Aquino in Congress would prosper.

Belmonte also called on all concerned to wait for the final ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) on the watchlist order case against former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He said the talks of impeaching Aquino over moves to defy the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the SC on the travel ban against Arroyo were “speculative.”

“He’s (Aquino) just trying to protect a bigger question, which is, in effect, if she (Arroyo) already left before everything is heard (in the SC), it’s simply to preserve the status quo,” Belmonte told reporters.

“I wish everybody will wait until after the SC has had a chance to hear and to go over the pleadings,” he said.

Belmonte said the SC justices are “speeding up” their deliberations on the issue.

“It’s just a matter of a few days so let’s not heat things up,” he said.

Belmonte believes if an impeachment complaint were filed in the House of Representatives against Aquino, it would not prosper due to the lack of lawmakers who would support it.

Arroyo’s allies in the House are not even keen on initiating an impeachment process against Aquino.

“Contrary to reports, we are not filing an impeachment complaint against the President,” Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said.

“Initiating an impeachment process requires serious study. It has to be based on solid legal foundation. Unless we are sure of the basis, we will not file a complaint. We are a responsible opposition,” he said.

Lagman said though the actions of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in ignoring the SC on the TRO that effectively allowed Arroyo to go abroad could be attributed to Aquino, they would have to determine the “direct culpability” of the President.

“We have to inquire into the factual circumstances. Secretary De Lima herself admitted that she cleared her decisions with the President. Did the President commit culpable violation of the Constitution that could constitute a ground for impeachment?” he asked.

Lagman said the supposed violation should be “culpable” and not a simple transgression.

“It could be a repeated violation, excessive abuse of power or a grave violation. We will have to determine that after a serious legal study and research,” he said.

Lagman added that if he and the 28 other minority members decide to file an impeachment case against Aquino, “it will be a collective effort.”

The opposition leader pointed out that in initiating an impeachment process against Aquino, “we also have to reckon with the numerical superiority of the President’s allies.” – With Jess Diaz