Nograles: Arroyo impeachment still unlikely even with JDV on board
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/26/2008 2:51 AM
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House Speaker Prospero Nograles believes that the endorsement made on Saturday by former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. of the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo will not affect the “numbers” against her impeachment in the lower house.
Nograles said that based on his consultations among party leaders, most of the congressmen do not favor the impeachment complaint for two main reasons.
“The sentiment is that it's not the time to do it because we are facing an economic crisis, and the election is right around the corner so it might be difficult to get the numbers to impeach the president,” said Nograles in an interview over ANC’s Primenews Saturday.
"But truthfully, I think that the anti- and the pro-impeachment numbers have not changed in the house despite JDV's endorsement and support," he said. "That's my 'sense' of the general feelings in the house after consultation with party leaders of the coalition."
Nograles said he had hoped de Venecia would not endorse the complaint filed by his son, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, a witness in the botched-National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China's ZTE Corp.
“I was hoping that he would not joint the fray, but since the news report is that he is going to endorse it, I guess that now becomes a fact,” said Nograles.
Clever politician?
When asked if de Venecia’s delayed endorsement was part of the de Venecias' political strategy, Nograles said he thinks otherwise. Joey de Venecia is planning to seek a Senate seat in 2010.
“I would suppose that he was really agonizing about it and he came with the decision today, and we respect him for that,” he said.
Nograles said that it seems that de Venecia already gave his move a lot of political thought.
“I know that he is a very clever politician, so I know that he has weighed the political and legal consequences of what he's gonna do,” he said.
Regarding de Venecia’s willingness to testify versus the President, Nograles said this will only happen if there is a trial.
“Based on the procedure on the rules of impeachment, the testimony only comes after the impeachment is sent to the Senate when the trial begins. Otherwise, I cannot see how he can testify,” he said.
Listen to conscience
De Venecia earlier 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.
"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.
Opposition leader Iloilo Vice-Gov. Rolex Suplico, for his part, challenged his former colleagues in the House of Representatives to endorse the impeachment complaint.
"Now that former Speaker Jose De Venecia announced his intention to endorse the impeachment complaint, I urge House members to endorse it as well. I recall that several House members denounced the non-endorsement of JDV as fatal to the complaint, since his son Joey is a complainant," Suplico said.
Palace pooh-poohs
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, meanwhile, pooh-poohed the latest development in the impeachment process against Arroyo.
"Let's leave it to the antics of Congress," he told reporters in Beijing where Arroyo attended the Asia-Europe Meeting.
After three failed attempts at impeaching Arroyo in the past three years, the Palace appears confident of defeating it again this year. -- with reports from RICKY CARANDANG and NADIA TRINIDAD, ABS-CBN News
