JDV changes mind, backs Arroyo impeach raps
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/25/2008 2:12 PM
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Former House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. on Saturday called on congressmen to listen to their conscience in deciding whether or not to support the new impeachment complaint filed by his son against President Arroyo.
De Venecia made the call as he publicly announced that he has finally decided to endorse the complaint lodged by his son and namesake, Joey “Jose” de Venecia III.
“If congressmen and congresswomen, irrespective of their political party, will listen to their conscience, the voice of conscience, then siguradong panalo itong impeachment complaint na ito (this impeachment complaint will succeed),” the former speaker said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s "Dateline Philippines" newscast.
Taking off from former president Joseph Estrada’s cue, de Venecia said congressmen should shun the lure of the pork barrel and money in voting for the new impeachment complaint.
In a speech in Bacolod City recently, Estrada said the new impeachment complaint may follow the faith of the previous complaints because of politics, pork barrel and cash.
National interest
The former speaker, who initially refused to endorse his son’s complaint against Mrs. Arroyo, said “national interest” made him decide to change his mind.
“There is a higher interest than ethical interest and that is the national interest, which is the highest interest of the Filipino people. On this basis, I have no choice but to endorse the impeachment complaint because it would be a crime against the Filipino people if I do not support this impeachment complaint,” de Venecia said.
He said that he came to realize this after hearing the advise of evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, leader of the Jesus Is Lord Movement.
De Venecia added that his call for moral revolution would be meaningless if he continued refusing to endorse the complaint.
Swift, judicious action on new impeachment rap
De Venecia’s successor, Speaker Prospero Nograles, meanwhile, promised Saturday that the House of Representatives will act “swiftly and judiciously” on the impeachment complaint so as not to disrupt the lower chamber’s other legislative duties.
"Our actions on this complaint must be public and transparent, but swift and judicious. Against a background of serious global economic problems we must not allow the house of the people to be out of focus or divided at this time," Nograles said.
He said the House Committee on Justice, headed by Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, had promised to rush its decision on the complaint.
Meanwhile, Nograles pleaded to congressmen to “respect and support” whatever the decision of the justice committee on the complaint.
"I would like to remind our peers that we will all come and go as members of the House but the House is here to stay. We should all protect the integrity of the House of the People and under my watch, I will not allow name-calling, character assassination and political grandstanding at the expense of the entire institution," he said.
The complaint
The young de Venecia, joined by Iloilo Vice-Governor Rolex Suplico and public interest lawyer Harry Roque had filed the complaint at the House secretary-general's office.
It was initially endorsed by Bayan Muna representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza.
The young de Venecia said the more than 100-page complaint will "stand on its own merit" and is backed by evidence.
He said the impeachment complaint is also part of citizens' battle against corruption and poverty.
He expressed hope that more citizens and civil society organizations will support the impeachment complaint.
Only one impeachment complaint against the president is allowed each year, and only the first valid complaint will be entertained by the House of Representatives under its rules.
The impeachment complaint accuses 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 $130 million.
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.
Impeachment complaints filed against President Arroyo in 2005, 2006 and 2007 all failed to get the needed one-third votes of the House.
