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‘Citizen’s
Impeachment Complaint’ Filed Vs GMA
BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Posted 12:49 p.m., June 26, 2006
House secretary
general receives the second impeachment complaint from lead
complainant Nini Quezon-Avanseña, as endorsed by Reps. Francis
Escudero and Ronaldo Zamora, June 26.
PHOTO BY AUBREY MAKILAN |
The second
impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was
formally filed today at the office of the secretary general of the House
of Representatives, who confirmed it as the “first complaint” filed at
his office.
At 8:09 a.m.,
House secretary general Roberto P. Nazareno received a copy of the
complaint by lead complainant Nini Quezon-Avanceña, as endorsed by
opposition lawmakers House Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero and
San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora. The complainants held vigil at
the House last night in anticipation of the filing of another complaint
by lawyer Oliver Lozano, who filed the first impeachment case
against the president last year.
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In the new
impeachment complaint, the president was charged for her “foregoing
unconstitutional acts” that constitute "culpable violations of the
Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes and
betrayal of public trust."
Nazareno
said he would immediately transmit the complaint to House Speaker Jose
de Venecia, who has 10 days to transmit it to the Committee on Rules,
then to the Committee on Justice to determine sufficiency in form and
substance. The first impeachment complaint was dismissed on the basis of
prejudicial questions raised in the House plenary.
The
154-page complaint was filed by 20 lead complainants, 18 organizations,
including relatives and victims of human rights violations under the
Arroyo administration. Among the complainants were University of the
Philippines professor Randolf S. David, national artist for literature
Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Col. (ret) Guillermo Cunanan, and Bishop
Deogracias Iniguez, Kilusang Makabansang Ekomista (KME) founder.
Organizations include the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New
Patriotic Alliance), Black and White Movement, Kilusang Magbubukid ng
Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the
Philippines),
Women March and Manila Public School Teachers Association, Inc. (MPTSA).
Former
government officials were also among complainants, including former
presidential adviser for the peace process Teresita Deles, former social
welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, and former transportation
secretary Josephine Lichauco.
The
complainants had a one-time swearing-in before Nazareno. Lawyer Neri
Colmenares did a roll call of the complainants before handing each
affiant’s signed form of the unification and certification against
forum-shopping to Nazareno.
Former
vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr., along with Sandra Cam, the lone
witness against the president on the issue of illegal numbers’ game or
jueteng, will file his separate complaint tomorrow, June 27.
Other
opposition lawmakers who expressed support in the filing were CIBAC Rep.
Joel Villanueva, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, Akbayan, Gabriela Women’s
Party Rep. Liza Maza, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, Bayan Muna Rep.
Teodoro Casiño, Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales, and Laguna Representative
Benjamin Agarao.
Nazareno
said that 78, from the former 79 lawmakers are required to endorse the
complaint since representatives Ronaldo Puno and Rolando Andaya already
joined the Cabinet. Bulatlat
FULL
TEXT OF SECOND IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT
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