BY AUBREY MAKILAN|
Bulatlat.com

A year after killing the first impeachment complaint, the House of Representative justice committee again dismissed the second impeachment rap against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for insufficiency in substance.

Before the voting, committee chair Simeon Datumanong ordered to transfer the venue of the proceeding from the Plenary Hall to the much smaller Andaya Hall.

Datumanong suspended the hearing quarter to 6 p.m. after the pro-impeachment crowd waved white envelopes printed with the word “suhoL” (bribe).

This prompted the anti-impeachment audience wearing yellow shirts printed with Arroyo’s face in front, who all stood up from the second floor of the gallery and walked out.

Even Pateros-Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano was later told to remove the paper which he placed on the podium with the words, “Takot, Ayaw Sumagot. Kasi Guilty?” (Afraid, Refuses to Answer. Maybe Guilty?) during his speech.

While the hearing was suspended, the majority legislators held their executive meeting at the Andaya Hall while the minority congressmen held theirs at the minority office. After over an hour, the hearing finally resumed and continued at the Session Hall.

At 7:48 p.m., the administration-dominated committee voted to dismiss the complaint filed by the Black and White Movement, upon motion by Ilocos Sur Representative Salacnib Baterina, vice chairman of the justice committee.

The minority congressmen walked out of the hall while the crowd was shouting “Buksan ang Kahon!” (Open the boxes!) while waving the white envelopes.

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