Arroyo's disqualification from congressional race sought
MANILA, Philippines - Akbayan Rep. Rissa Hontiveros on Monday filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a petition to disqualify President Arroyo from the congressional race in Pampanga in 2010.
Arroyo filed her candidacy on November 30, making her the first incumbent president in Philippine history to run for a lower position.
In her petition, Hontiveros said that Arroyo, who is running for congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga, will be violating the constitutional provision regarding "equal protection of the law."
"As current President, she has all the powers and resources as well as access to it that will definitely prejudice the chances of any opposing candidate in any electoral competition against her," Hontiveros said.
Arroyo will be facing 3 challengers in the elections next year: electronics engineer Feliciano Serrano; entrepreneur Filipinas Sampang; and architect Adonis Simpao.
Hontiveros set Arroyo's imposition of martial law in Maguindanao has an "intimidating and chilling effect even if not proclaimed in the territory where she is running as a candidate in a local electoral contest, much more so if it were."
Allowing Arroyo to seek for lower office would also "present fundamental questions of equity," since the President has the power to suspend the use of appropriated funds.
"It is argued that presidential prerogatives on allocations and funds will be more abused when a President is seeking lower office and can therefore wield such powers against an opponent or for partisan purposes," she said.
Hontiveros added that Arroyo, having the power to supervise local government units, "wields the vast power, arsenal and prerogatives of the State to bear down against an incumbent whom she is running against." Arroyo, if she wins, will be replacing her oldest son Mikey as representative of the second district.
Hontiveros told reporters that, given the premises in her petition, Arroyo can't run even at the barangay level.
Activists allege that Arroyo's candidacy for a House seat in 2010 is an attempt to escape the charges she might face as soon as she finishes her term.
Hontiveros is among the House solons who have been pushing for the impeachment of Arroyo.(Newsbreak)
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Disqualification case has no teeth
Don't vote for her. If the majority of the people won't vote for her then there's no chance of her being elected. The problem is that a lot of people are inclined to sell their votes for a mere Php 100.00 only or simply a promise of protection. That's the real problem not about Arroyo rigging the automated election. That's close to impossible now since there is a foreign partner involved.
We need to move forward with this. There's no way a disqualification case against Arroyo will push through since there is no law that prevents an outgoing President to run for a congressional term. Put the blame on our lazy congressmen and senators for not coming up with a law for this. Putting up a useless disqualification case is as much a waste of effort just like CHA-CHA.
There's a lot more problems that Rissa Hontiveros could look up to than this case.
Arroyo out of Politics
Supreme Court members are all appointed by the President, that is why they can't inforce the law against the President. Philippines will never change, the corrupt politicians will stay in office and keep on stealing money from the government funds.
PHILIPPINES- LAWLESS AND CORRUPT COUNTRY
The legislative branch,department branch and the supreme court can not understand the articles written in the Constitution."The elected President can not be reelected for any position".Ang presidente na ibinoto ng bayan ay hindi na puwedeng kumandidato sa anumang position.
FOR GLORIA ARROYO- ang dating pangulo o presidente ng PILIPINAS ay hindi na puwedeng kumandidato kahit na barangay captain.Ang puwede lang sa kanya ay volunteer adviser ng isang namumuno.Ang dating presidente ay magiging ordinaryong mamamayan na lamang.Ito na siguro ang kapatid ng inihahain nilang CHA CHA.
FOR JOSEPH ESTRADA- ang dating pangulo o presidente ng PILIPINAS ay hindi na puwedeng kumandidato kahit na barangay captain.Ang puwede lang sa kanya ay volunteer adviser na wala ng kapangyarihan.Ito na rin siguro ang inihahain niyang CHA CHA noong namumuno pa siya.Si Erap ay under probation ng Presidential Pardon.Ito ay lifetime na hindi siya puwedeng gumawa ng kahit anong krimen.At ayon sa kanyang probation ay hindi na siya puwedeng kumandidato sa kahit anong position.Siya ay voluntarily na nagbitiw sa pagiging presidente.Siya rin ay napatunayang nagkasala sa "PLUNDER".Ang plunder ang pinakamataas na parusa sa isang Public servant.
COMMON SENSE- kaya ka kumandidato bilang presidente dahil ang iyong kaalaman ay higit pa sa kahit anong mababa at mataas na position sa bansa.Sinusubukan lang nila kung ang tao ay magrereklamo.
ITO NA YATA ANG KAPATID NG CHARTER CHANGE.Nakasaad din sa charter change na ang dati lang na angkan ng nahalal na pulitiko ang puwede lang kumandidato sa isang position.Ang mga mahihirap na umasenso ay wala ng karapatan pang mamuno.Wala talagang kuwenta ang batas sa PILIPINAS,mismong SUPREME COURT ay pinapayagan ang mga kalokohang ito.ITO AY ISANG SAMPAL SA ATING PILIPINO NA MISMONG PINAKAMATAAS NA HUKOM AY SUMASANG-AYON SA GARAPALANG PANLOLOKO SA TAONG BAYAN.