Citizen Complainants Oppose Efforts to Kill Impeachment

BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat
Posted 5:30 p.m., Aug. 16, 2006

Citizen complainants and leaders of various people’s organizations opposed efforts of pro-Arroyo legislators to kill the impeachment bid against Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In a press conference this morning, Dr. Carol Araullo, chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said, “Efforts to kill the impeachment reveals the barefaced tyranny of the majority.”

Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and one of the lead complainants, said in Filipino, “Pro-Arroyo legislators refuse to listen to the sentiments of their constituents. They do not want to recognize the truth.”

For her part, Atty. Josie Lichauco, former commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission, said, “Allies of Mrs. Arroyo repeatedly ask for evidence. However, they themselves do not allow the presentation of pieces of evidence. They do not want to accede to the request of the minority that each allegation be discussed before proceeding to the voting on the substance of the impeachment.”

In a separate press conference, Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles said that the House of Representatives (HOR) will vote on the substance of the complaint today. “We may be able to dispose of the impeachment today.”

Nograles said, “We are following the rules of the impeachment… It is the majority votes that count.”

Culpable for human rights violations

Araullo said that the Amnesty International report proves that there is substance in the impeachment complaint. “The AI has made it clear that the Arroyo government shares huge responsibility in the spate of killings.”

Araullo asked, “Why can’t our legislators see the truth? What they are doing is an insult to the families of victims of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations. They ought to be ashamed of their callousness.”

In reaction to the AI report, Nograles said, “More people were killed in Lebanon than there are in this government. I don’t think it’s fair.”

Nograles added, “Killings, kidnap for ransom, wars between political families have always been there. During the past administrations, people did not point to the President as the culprit.”

Warning from the youth

Meanwhile, youth groups from the Youth Demanding Arroyo’s Resignation (DARE) held their placards inside the session hall.

Their placards state, “Panalo sa impeachment. Talo sa Kabataan” and “Taksil sa Kabataan.” Bulatlat 

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