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‘JV’ warns Palace stooges: Follow people’s will, or else...

10/16/2008

The United Opposition (UNO) yesterday said the latest impeachment complaint against the President could result in another windfall for administration allies at the House of Representatives but warned “Malacañang stooges that their constituents will give them their due come election day.”

“The impeachment complaint means happy days for administration’s allies at the House of Representatives,” UNO National Capital Region chairman and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said.

In a statement, Ejercito warned Malacañang supporters that with the present surveys showing that 53 percent of the Filipino people were dissatisfied with the Arroyo adminsitration, “congressmen should be a little careful this time whether to get a shopping bag at Malacañang or follow the will of the people.

“Otherwise the brunt of anger of their constituents, who continuously suffer hardships caused by GMA’s misgovernance, might cost them or their endorsed candidate in the 2010 elections. Beware ‘honorable’ lawmakers, 53 percent of the Filipinos are watching,” Ejercito said.

A new impeachment complaint against President Arroyo was filed this week accusing her of betrayal of public trust.

Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico and lawyer Harry Roque led the filing of the complaint at the House of Representatives. It was endorsed by Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza.

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 telecommunications deal with China’s ZTE Corp., saying 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 P728-million fertilizer scam, P2-billion swine scam and alleged ballot-switching in the 2004 presidential election.