Commentary: Judiciary Committee junks Arroyo impeachment

COMMENTARY FROM PERRY DIAZ

As expected, the House Judiciary Commmittee on a 42-8 vote junked the fourth impeachment petition against President Gloria Macapapgal Arroyo as “insufficient in substance.” With 80% of the House members under her control, how could she be impeached?

Enough of this impeachment exercise. What the opposition should do is how to stop Gloria from staying in power beyond 2010. That’s where the battle line should be drawn. Right now, Gloria is pulling all the strings to put in place her master plan to extend her term. If the opposition cannot stop her by June 2009, then consider it a done deal. The only way she can be stopped at that time is “people power.” The question is: Who will lead the people?

Perry

THE DIRTY 42

The following are the members of the Judiciary Committee who voted to junk the impeachment petition:

1. Capiz Rep. Fred Castro (Lakas-CMD);
2. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman (Lakas-CMD);
3. Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan (Lakas-CMD);
4. Negros Oriental George Arnaiz (NPC);
5. Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. (Lakas-CMD);
6. Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Kampi);
7. Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Promdi-BOPK-Lakas);
8. Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier (Lakas-CMD);
9. Party-list Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (Apec) Rep. Edgar Valdez;
10. Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto (Lakas-CMD);
11. Lanao del Sur Rep. Faysah Maniri Racman Dumarpa (Lakas-CMD);
12. Leyte Rep. Eufrocino Codilla Sr. (Lakas-CMD);
13. Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Belma Cabilao (Lakas-CMD);
14. Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao (LP);
15. Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles (NPC);
16. Masbate Rep. Rizalina Seachon Lanete (NPC);
17. Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison (Lakas-CMD);
18. Bohol Rep. Roberto Cajes (Lakas-CMD);
19. Tawi-Tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar (Lakas-CMD);
20. La Union Rep. Victor Ortega (Lakas-CMD);
21. Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong (Lakas-CMD);
22. Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Lakas-CMD);
23. Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao (NPC):
24. Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Kampi);
25. Quirino Rep. Junie Cua (LP);
26. Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia Sr. (Cebu-Kampi);
27. Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga (Kampi);
28. Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas (Kampi);
29. Sultan Kudarat Rep. Arnulfo Go (Kampi-PTM);
30. Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan David (Kampi);
31. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas (LP-Ugyon);
32. Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita (Lakas-CMD);
33. Quezon City Rep. Bingbong Crisologo (NP);
34. Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin (Lakas-CMD);
35. Batangas Rep. Victoria Reyes (Lakas-CMD);
36. Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II (Lakas-CMD);
37. Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor (Lakas-CMD);
38. Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Maranon III (Kampi) who signed for Rep. Amelita Villarosa;
39. Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong (Lakas-CMD);
40. Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar (Lakas-BOPK);
41. Bukidnon Rep. Candido Pacrudo Jr. (Lakas-CMD) who signed for Rep. Eric Singson; and
42. Manila Rep. Maria Zenaida Angping (NPC).

Arroyo survives impeachment attempt

(CNN) — Allies of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday defeated an attempt by opposition leaders to impeach her on large-scale corruption charges — the fourth such attempt in four years.

Protesters display slogans in front of the House of Representatives in Manila on Tuesday.

The House Justice Committee dismissed the impeachment complaint by 42-8 votes, saying that it was “insufficient in substance,” the state-run Philippines News Agency reported.

The complaint alleged that Arroyo and her husband were directly involved in an Internet broadband deal with a Chinese firm. The deal was ultimately scrapped amid allegations of corruption.

“I’m not saying that there is no substance (to the complaint), but it was insufficient,” Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia told the committee before the vote.

“The allegations are not allegations of fact. They are conclusions, opinion, inferences, and even arguments,” Garcia said, according to the news agency.

Arroyo first took office in 2001. Since then, she has survived four impeachment attempts and periodic rumors of coup.

She won re-election in 2004, but opposition parties called into question the legitimacy of that race.

During the vote count, Arroyo was tape-recorded talking to a senior election official, which opposition leaders charge is evidence she manipulated the outcome. The president has denied any wrongdoing.

The first of the impeachment charges were brought against Arroyo in 2005 for vote-tampering. Congress rejected the charges.

The opposition then tried to impeach Arroyo in 2006 and 2007 — and Congress dismissed those attempts as well.

Her six-year term ends in 2010