MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - A taxpayer from Baguio City named Danilo Lihaylihay has approached House minority leader Danilo Suarez and asked for their help to endorse his impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino III.
 

In his complaint, according to Rep. Danilo Suarez, the basis is betrayal of public trust by the Office of the President.

The complaint cites the signature of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., on behalf of the President, approving the sale of the burned down Pines Hotel that is owned by the government.

Suarez said that Lihaylihay claimed that the market value of the land allegedly amounts to P1.4 billion to 1.7 billion, but it was only allegedly sold at P69 million to 70 million last September 2011.
 

Suarez said that the allegations are serious and needs good presentation and strong evidence.
 

Suarez had a closed-door meeting with the complainant to study the case.
 

Malacañang denied the allegation in the impeachment complaint.

“That’s a foolish attempt to drag the President. There is no truth to that and the President will not be engaged in an anomalous transaction,” Lacierda said.

Gonzales doubts impeach bid vs PNoy will prosper

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales, meanwhile, said he doubts the minority in the Lower House can launch a successful impeachment bid against the President.

Gonzales said any impeachment complaint will have to go through the House justice committee normal process unless it can muster the required 95 votes or 1/3 of the total members of the House of Representatives to directly transmit the complaint to the Senate for trial.

He said they will wait for any complaint that is filed.

Rep. Miro Quimbo, spokesman of the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, said only 2 impeachment cases have successfully reached the Senate.
 

The first is the impeachment complaint against then President Joseph Estrada in the year 2000, the second is the complaint against Corona.

Quimbo said it was easy to get more than the required number of votes for the complaint vs Corona because the issues are clear. Otherwise, he said impeaching a president is really difficult. -- with reports from Willard Cheng and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News