Negros execs laugh off new impeachment plaint
BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Third District Congressman Jose Carlos Lacson laughed off reports of yet another impeachment complaint filed again by colleagues in Congress, the fourth, against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Lacson said although he respects the stand of minority, his honest opinion to the motive described one of "politics" thus a "political decision."
"I hope they have a strong case against the President because as far as I know, the real intention of filing the complaint is to prevent the president from running again in the next 2010 elections," Lacson added.
When asked about his stand now, Lacson said it is not fair to reveal it as early as this time because he also wanted to listen to the grounds presented by the opposition. Whether he will go against it or not, it will depend on the veracity of the complaint as he understands the role of the opposition in a democracy such as one in the country.
"All of these are political in nature with motive to destabilize the country from going beyond and to compound the problem the country is facing... but I would let the impeachment complaint go to the process because it's the opposition's prerogative," Lacson stressed.
Meanwhile, Governor Isidro Zayco doubts if it will pass the House of Representatives.
"I don't think that it will prosper in the House of Representatives because the opposition is outnumbered this time," Zayco added.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is praying for an early resolution "the soonest time possible" saying it is important for the country to have stability with the world experiencing economic and financial crisis.
Jose 'Joey' de Venecia III, Iloilo Vice-Governor Rolex Suplico, and public interest lawyer Harry Roque led the filing of the complaint at the House of Representatives secretary-general's office Monday.
The impeachment complaint was endorsed by Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, accusing Mrs. Arroyo of betrayal of public trust after she approved the National Broadband Network (NBN) telecommunications deal with China's ZTE Corp., saying that the deal was overpriced by at least $130M.
Other grounds included in the complaint are: culpable violation of the Constitution for approving the Northrail rehabilitation project; numerous human rights violations; graft and corruption for her administration's involvement in various irregularities including the P728M fertilizer scam, P2B swine scam; and, alleged ballot-switching in the 2004 presidential election.