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Why try impeachment again?

Click here for Inquirer story on filing of impeachment complaint.

When it was announced last Friday that concerned citizens will try once again , for the fourth time, to file an impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo, the immediate reactions I heard were, “ “Why try again? It won’t prosper anyway.”

My answer is, Gloria Arroyo should be impeached because she has committed impeachable crimes. That’s the plain and simple reason.

What are those impeachable crimes that Arroyo committed? Culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, just to name a few.

Arroyo is occupying Malacañang despite the fact that she has never been been elected president by the Filipino people.

The Constitution provides that the President shall be elected by a direct vote of the people. When was Arroyo elected by the people? In 2001, with the help of the military, civil society and the Supreme Court, she grabbed power from an elected president. In 2004, she masterminded the tampering of election results in her favor.

When the “Hello Garci” tapes surfaced, where she can be heard talking with former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano directing him to make sure that she leads by one million and asking if the tampered Certificates of Canvass matched with the Election Returns (Garci’s answer: no, because the military did a lousy job), she and her political lieutenants launched a cover-up that utililized again members of the police and military. Milions of pesos in taxpayers money were spent buying off witnesses and kidnapping relatives of witnesses.

One of the new pieces of evidence that Harry Roque, counsel for complainants, has that would support Arroyo’s cheating in the 2004 elections prove the participation of some members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police in the switching of fake ERs with the genuine ones contained in the ballot boxes kept at the Batasan Pambansa building.

Before the end of the year, former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, who is languishing in jail in the United States, is expected to be deported back to the Philippines. It’s very doubtful if Bolante would be compelled to reveal more details about how he diverted some P2 billion intended for farmers to the 2004 campaign kitty of Arroyo.

But God has a way of doing things. Who knows, something might happen, similar to what was done to Jun Lozada, to make Bolante change his mind and tell the Filipino people the truth. It should bear on his conscience that the rice shortage besetting the country, which made the Philippine the top rice importer in the world, has been partly caused by the mis-use of agri funds. That includes the millions of pesos of Quedancor funds that would have increased food production..It’s a crime against the Filipino people and it could not have happened without the encouragement of Arroyo.

As part of Arroyo’s cover-up of her stealing the 2004 elections, she had to massively pay a number government officials who agreed to be her accomplices. That’s why Benjamin Abalos, chair of the Commission on Elections, had to be rewarded with a multi-billion peso telecommunication project with ZTE International.That will be included in the impeachment complaint. So is the Diwalwal project with the ZTE.

The Northrail project as well as the selling out to China of the islands in the Spratlys being claimed by the Philippines will also be included.

Arroyo’s attempt to create a Bangsamoro state within Philippine territory as contained in the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will also be cited in one of the three impeachment complaints.

Edith Burgos, mother of the missing Jonas Burgos, will be one of the complainants. The impeachment complaint will cite the many cases of extra-judicial killings committed by the military with Arroyo as comander-in-chief.

Fr. Joaquin Bernas once wrote that, “The whole point of the impeachment complaint is to save the nation from one who does not deserve to be in office.”

The frustrated but faint-hearted say, “But we don’t have the numbers!”. So what?

Randy David who led the failed impeachment in 2006 said remaining quiet is not an option.

“A quietist attitude rewards thieves, opportunists, and dishonest people. Democracy is anything but quiet. The day citizens shut up will be the day they lose their stakes in the nation.”

Click below for copy of 99-page complaint:

final_impeachment_complaint.doc

Published inImpeachment '08MalayaPolitics

38 Comments

  1. bitchevil bitchevil

    If not impeachment, why not try imbitchment? ImBITCHment is better for the Evil Bitch. Kidding aside, it’s okay to keep trying. Even if the chance of success is slim, let’s give the Bitch some sleepless nights. That could also be one way of neutralizing Cha-Cha being pushed by Malacanang. What’s more disgusting is JDV’s announcement that he’s keeping his hands off from his son’s impeachment complaint citing “delicadeza”. Since when does this old Joe have delicadeza?

  2. bitchevil bitchevil

    Guess who are happy with this new impeachment complaint? The congressmen allied with the Evil Bitch. They are in fact thankful to JDV III for filing the new complaint because this is another chance for them to receive huge amount of money from Malacanang.

  3. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Pangasinan Rep. Jose De Venecia is a potential key witness against Gloria Arroyo. They are partners in crime. JDV boasted that he has tons of documentary evidence. BTW, what happened to boxes of documentary evidence during the last impeachment complaint?

  4. bitchevil bitchevil

    Diego, when this old Joe started to give excuses in delaying his Senate testimony, I already sensed that he would never testify. The year is about the end and the ZTE deal investigation has no closure yet. The Senate is just waiting for him to testify before wrapping up. Who knows, this Trapo could have already reached a compromise with Malacanang. That leaves his son to do the battle by himself. Shame on JDV!

  5. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Rep. Jose De Venecia was then talking about proper time and proper forum when to testify on $329 M NBN-ZTE broadband scam and the over-priced Northrail project. This is the proper forum in his territory (Congress) to pin down Gloria’s ass.

  6. rose rose

    If at first you don’t succeed try,try again. Hindi ba ito ang laging maalala sa atin noong araw. And success is not in never failing but in rising again each time you fall, hindi ba? Let’s keep going.
    …with regards to JdV..he is going to take with him to his grave..lahat na ginawa niya sa pagtulong kay gloria rather than itutulong niya sa mga mahihirap. Anong paki niya sa mga mahihirap, hindi naman siya nag hirap. Conscience? for JdV ano yon? it is not in my vocabulary…

  7. rose rose

    anak vs. tatay? I hope and pray magwawagi ang anak..kasi anak siya ng nanay niya.

  8. I just hope JDV will do his patriotic duty in the House when the complaint reaches the floor. The congressmen are staring at defeat in the polls for their coddling of criminal Gloria and her cabal.

    Once Gloria is out they will be banished from political relevance if they do not stay on the side of the people. The elections will be their punishment.

  9. chi chi

    I guess JDV won’t come out to make good his promise to take the Senate seat and reveal what he knows about the NBN/ZTE and etc. Mas marami yatang hawak si Pidal na documents laban sa kanya kaya ayan at may zipper ang kanyang bibig.

  10. Rose: If at first you don’t succeed try,try again.

    *****
    I was going to say the same thing. One difference that makes the Japanese more successful than the Filipinos is that majority of people here do not easily give up. Tama ka, Rose, it is just mater of determination and perseverance. Kulang ang karamihan sa mga pilipino niyan. Mahilig lang silang lumusot. But God willing, Gloria Dorobo and her minions will be out soon.

    My prayers go to Atty. Roque, et al. May God continue to protect and preserve him.

  11. Rose: If at first you don’t succeed try,try again.

    *****
    I was going to say the same thing. One difference that makes the Japanese more successful than the Filipinos is that majority of people here do not easily give up. Tama ka, Rose, it is just matter of determination and perseverance. Kulang ang karamihan sa mga pilipino niyan. Mahilig lang silang lumusot. But God willing, Gloria Dorobo and her minions will be out soon.

    My prayers go to Atty. Roque, et al. May God continue to protect and preserve him.

  12. rose rose

    grizzy: my four months stay in Japan on an Exchange program made me a better person. For one I learned self discipline..nakita ko ito sa mga tao..when the sign says don’t walk they don’t walk..

  13. rose rose

    kanina ang lesson namin sa CCD-sin, temptation, conscience..
    may nagtanong sa akin..”my Mom said that if I study and get good grades she will take me shopping..is that bribery or reward..what is the difference? and this is what my response was..when you are given something for what you did which was wrong that is bribery..but when it is for something that you did which is good..that is a reward..and they understood..nagtataka lang ako..bakit sa atin..our congressmen, justices (supreme courts pa) hindi nila maintinhan..

  14. …here in Paradise, when the wall says “Don’t urinate here.” – it’s where it stinks the most.

    So it’s not a surprise when its Constitution declares “Don’t Steal.”, yet plunder they merrily do, and keep doing.

    Advance Merry Christmas Kong!

  15. Valdemar Valdemar

    Newsrooms are busy scrounging up again their storerooms for old templates on impeachment. Same typos, same bananas. They should try the other sleeves for newer tricks.

  16. The global financial crisis may yet give the administration a good reason for charter change. I just heard Sec. Golez say that Gloria’s economic measures were greatly appreciated in the latest summit and might be used as the template for economic recovery worldwide. If this is true, Gloria is indispensable already, we need her economic expertise badly during these troubled times! Not!
    …but I believe they’ll explore this angle in the days to come.

  17. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    JDV has to choose between lucky bitch Gloria and his prodigal son, Joey. At the end of the day, blood is thicker than water prevails.

  18. E-mail from Fritz:

    We should never stop to show and assert our right to fight and gain back the freedom we rightfully should enjoy. “Let us show them, the “al-lies” of GMA, that ours is not a blind opposition to progress, but opposition to blind progress.

  19. Nograles already hinted last week that they would also accept and consider impeachment filed thru telegram.

    Laying down the predicate.

  20. atty36252 atty36252

    You may have read the news about the CA decision on the

    http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=269:ca-green-lights-suit-to-annul-northrail&catid=23:topnews

    This is where you see the difference between a career jurist and a stooge. I hope somebody posts the decision itself. The CA said (Justice Remedios Salazar Fernando) that there is no evidence that NMEC is an agent of the PROC, that this is a mere commercial contract, and not an executive agreement.

    “The questioned agreements cannot be considered as an act jure imperii [an act in pursuit of sovereign activity] to justify petitioner CNMEC’s claim for sovereign immunity. Although the Northrail project may have been conceived as a product of bilateral relations between PROC and the Philippines, it does not necessarily follow that petitioner CNMEC’s act is the act of the government of the PROC which necessitates sovereign immunity,” the CA declared.”

    Compare this with the NBN decision of Teresita de Castro.

    Too bad, they cannot use the “executive privilege” shield if the Northrail project is re-investigated by the Senate, because it does not involve diplomatic nor military secrets. Now, if the impeachment ever goes to committee hearings, the Complainants can call the government stooges as hostile witnesses. Time to bring out the brown bags.

    If I were the stooge, I will up the ante. Half a million? Payat. There is a financial crisis. We need to pump prime the economy, so hand me a bigger brown bag.

  21. atty36252 atty36252

    Nograles already hinted last week that they would also accept and consider impeachment filed thru telegram.

    Laying down the predicate.
    *********************

    Good observation SumpPit. May nagtelegrama noong Sabado. Shrewd.

  22. May nagtelegrama noong Sabado. Shrewd. – atty36252

    Ganoon ba?

    Eh, di tapos na ang boksing. Knockdown uli.

  23. jackryan jackryan

    anong department na naman kaya ang mamamadyik ang pondo para sa ipamumodmod para sa mga tonggresman. Numbers game nga talaga ang labanan… mas maraming taya mas maraming tsansa or chance manalo… hehehe

  24. Atty, I’ll try to ask the office of Harry Roque for a soft copy of the CA decision on Northrail. They are the petitioners.

  25. Golberg Golberg

    Maagang pamasko naman ito para sa mga sipsip-higop sa mababang kaugukan. Suhol dito at suhol doon na naman iyan.
    Magdidiwang na naman ang mga ugok kasi maraming pera ang pakakawalan. Ano kaya ang ginagawa ni Neri ngayon sa opisina niya sa SSS? May instructions na kaya? Si W. Garcia ng GSIS; mas maraming pera yata doon?

  26. From Rep. Roilo Golez:

    The minority as a group has no position yet on the impeachment complaint. We will discuss it first chance we have during the recess.

    We have not seen the complaint and minority had no hand in preparation of said complaint.

  27. Ano kaya ang ginagawa ni Neri ngayon sa opisina niya sa SSS? -Golberg

    Plano niya ‘atang i-redefine ang SSS.

    Sup… Sup… Sup…

    Ngeeek. Kadiri!

    Pweeeeh!

  28. men0k men0k

    There could never any sweeter revenge for JDV than having this impeachment passed and voted “aye” by his supporters right in the place where he was betrayed, ganged-upon and chair-been-pulled-while-he-was-still-seated as Speaker…

    JDV, if you still want to save your family name as well as your children’s children from humility, this is the right time you are waiting for!

    You know that you still have enough supporters plus the oppositions, this is already the “numbers” we’ve been waiting for…

  29. jackryan jackryan

    may aabangan na naman tayong bagong teleserye (propaganda/issues)na gagawin ng gobyernong arroyo para matabunan na naman ang bagong impeachment… ano na naman kayang national issues o mga “scares” kuno ang gagawin o paplanuhin ng mga spin doctors ni ate glo? papaigtingin ang mga gyera? mawawalan ng kuryente ng ilang buwan? may bagong sakit na uusbong? at kung anu ano pa… hehehe

  30. jackryan jackryan

    sana hiling ko lang sa mga taga media… maging mapanuri sa mga inilalabas na news… lalo na pag galing sa mga kampon ni ate glo… wag po sa natin sasakyan agad ang kanilang hinahayag na balita dahil kayo po ay ginamit lang nila para sa kanilang mga maiingay na propaganda.

  31. Valdemar Valdemar

    Baka naman pwede rin email sa impeachment. Five inch thick na documents ang attachments. Kung telegrama, siguro sabi, “I impeach PGM for all the ills said and happened smce she took over from Erap up to the time she travelled with 70 congrssmen to the US…” Pero, may telegrama pa ba? Scrapped na ang morse code. At taka mahal.

  32. rose rose

    ano ang ginagawa kaya ni Neri? wari ko- playing with his hands and his fingers? how to make use his hands and dip into the pockets of..the SSS members and pass the bucks to his great grand mistress…kayo naman iba na naman ang nasaisip ninyo..green..pero talo pa rin tayo ni Neri…his is green as in bucks..dollar dollar you may wander from one to another..its not fair, its not fair…remember that game?

  33. rose rose

    corr: ganito pala yong laro..dollar dollar you may wander from one hand to another..is it fair, is it fair?

  34. rose rose

    DKG: sa atin “money is thicker than blood or water” and that will be so with JdV..

  35. bitchevil bitchevil

    Rose, Neri is the laughing stock in Malacanang. His colleagues call him “Mama”.

  36. bitchevil bitchevil

    Good thing JDV III’s group was able to file the complaint ahead of Lozano’s. However, Lozano is now claiming his should be entertained because it was a re-filing of the one he previously filed. Why should Lozano be so concerned about who and when should one file if the common objective is to impeach Gloria? Needless to say, Lozano’s was another bogus complaint to help the Evil Bitch. Lozano is Imelda’s lawyer. One plus one…you got it !

  37. Valdemar Valdemar

    Lozano is a guy who wants to be known and remembered like any blogger for his well meaning contribution to society. The only question is his credibility to be sane at all.

  38. rose rose

    ngayong na ka file na ang impeachment..how long will it take for them to start the proceedings and how long will it take to go through..years? baka idedelay lang nila..

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