September 6, 2005 @ 5:28 am · Posted by Sheila Coronel SAYING they were exhausted and that the opposition had already exhausted all their arguments, the majority moved at 3:37 this morning to vote on the Justice Committee report junking all three impeachment complaints against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Two hours later, the voting is still taking place, as each of the representatives were allowed to explain their votes. The House will surely declare the impeachment dead in the next two or three hours. So far, the count is 22-12 in favor of throwing out the impeachment complaints. President Arroyo is off the hook, in time, as her allies had intended, for her address next week to the United Nations General Assembly. As expected, the congressmen voted according to party lines.
The marathon session began at 5 p.m. yesterday with a series of privilege speeches, mainly by pro-impeachment congressmen, that lasted all of five hours. After a 45-minute break, congressmen proceeded to discuss the controversial report, but not before being delayed by two hours of questions and motions by representatives from the minority.
It was past midnight when the chair and vice chair of the Justice Committee finally made their speeches endorsing the report. This was followed by two-and-a-half hours of grilling mainly by opposition representatives Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano.
The House rules require a roll-call vote, and each represenative was given three minutes to explain his or her position.
At 3:52 a.m., the voting began with Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad starting off with a quote from Burmese Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi, who said, “It is not power that corrupts but fear of losing power that corrupts those who wield it.” Her vote: No to the report.
Muntinlupa Rep. Bejamin Abalos Jr. came next, saying that the rules of the 13th House should have been followed, and this would have allowed a merging of the impeachment complaints. His vote: Yes.
Manila Bienvenido Abante quoted the Scripture: “Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitened sepulchers, who are white on the outside but inside or full of dead men’s bones.” This exercise is hypocritical, he said. Pro-impeachment advocates don’t have a monopoly of truth or righteousness. For those who warn of going to the streets, another biblical quote: Those who resist the authority, resist God. His vote: Yes.
Cavite Rep. Joseph Abaya: “I have nothing against the President and her son and daughter are good friends.” He said he has three young children who would judge him on the bais of whether he did the right thing for God, country and people. He added: “I have made the decision based on conscience, morals and upbringing… a decision made without pressure, fear or favor.” His vote: No
Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Castillo Abayon: It is not the fault of the majority but of the minority, who didn’t agree to the proposed rules of the 13th Congress, which allows amendments to the impeachment before the House adopts an order of business. The prohibition on multiple impeachment complaints must be followed. His vote: Yes
Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan: “After listening to Rep. Cayetano, I have decided to vote to follow my conscience… I support Mrs. Arroyo.” His vote: Yes
Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta: The charges have to be resolved in the fullest, most transparent has trust been compromised? Has truth been concealed? Surely, we need to abide by the rules and the parameters provided by law, but these must be done in the context of public trust. We all seek a national closure. We must ask what we value most and what standards we should uphold as citizens, as parents, as leaders and representatives of our people. His vote: No.
Akbayan Rep. Mario Aguja: We are convinced that Mrs. Arroyo cheated, lied, and stole the people’s money. The impeachment is intended to get at the truth and to obtain justice. We have failed to provide the public an opportunity to hear the evidence against the President. The crisis will intensify as long as Mrs. Arroyo stays in power. His vote: No
Camarines Rep. Felix Alfelor: Impeachment is decisive and might ignite the dismemberment of the nation. We should not be rash but be prudent and patient. His vote: Yes
Davao Oriental Rep. Jose Mayo Almario: Impeachment is a political tool used mostly by those who are against the incumbent President. The merits of the complaint are often sidelined. Those who are for impeachment have an axe to grind or are sourgraping because they have not received funds for their programs, or because they want media exposure, or want the former president back in power. He believes Mrs. Arroyo is still the best person to run the government. His vote: Yes.
Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez: Endorsed the second complaint but feels the President will not get a fair trial in the Senate. His vote: Yes.
Agusan del Norte Rep. Angelica Amante: As representative of her district, her vote is Yes.
Sulu Rep. Hussin Amin: This is one of the most difficult votes he has made as congressman. People are suffering not because one person cheated her way to the presidency but because we have failed to respond to people’s needs. He voted to dismiss the Lozano complaint in the justice committee. Impeachment is a political process, not a legal process. The question is not only whether there is evidence to support the impeachment but whether the preferred policy is to remove the president or not. It is time to address the economic crisis. His vote: Yes.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara: The committee has taken a myopic view of the constitutional provisions on impeachment. We cannot absolve the president without hearing the evidence. While the majority rules, the minority and dissenting voices must be heard and they must feel they have a stake in the political process. We ask for a process that listens before it judges. In the last three months, we have seen the President manipulating the agencies and institutions of government. We should not allow ourselves to be likewise manipulated. His vote: No, despite the “awesome powers of a sitting president.”
Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino: These problems began with the revolutionary government formed in 1986 and the drafting of a constitution against this backdrop. We all swore to defend the constitution. The committee report is in accordance with his beliefs and principles. His vote: Yes.
South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio: In the last four years, she has seen the House compromise on many issues, including sin taxes and committee chairmanships. Yet in order not to compromise the president, the committee on justice has railroaded this report. “We are aggrieved, Mr. Speaker, do you see our pain?” she asked. The administration has no one to blame but itself. Four years after people power ousted Estrada because of jueteng, this administration has not done anything about the illegal numbers racket. There has been no change. If the impeachment complaint is killed, the political crisis will only intensify. Her vote: No.
Leyte Rep. Trinindad Apostol: She arrived at her vote with a clear conscience after diligent study of the facts. She cannot endorse Lozano complaint for trial as it is anchored on speculation. It is not wise to subject the president to the rigors of an impeachment trial after the opposition had been given the opportunity to ventilate their allegations. This divisive issue should be ended, for the benefit of the country and the economy. Her vote: Yes
Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino: At the height of the “Gloriagate” scandal, the President and her men urged us to go through an impeachment. The Justice Committee should have sequentially considered each of the three complaints. Instead, the complaints were slaughtered in just one day. We won’t be embarrassing the President if she goes overseas with an impeachment hanging over her head. It will instead show that in this country, no one is above the law. It’s not true either that the impeachment is destabilizing; on the contrary, the government will be more secure if the charges are dealt with. His vote: No (“As in Aqui-no.”)
Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III: We could have had a single impeachment proceeding despite multiple complaints. When he came to the House at 1:30 this afternoon, he asked for a copy of the Justice Committee report, but was given a copy only after 6 pm. This report has not looked at any evidence of guilt or innocence. We have not heard the evidence yet. The President has not been absolved. Government is not just about getting things done, but getting the right things done for the right reasons. The Filipino is patient, as his father said, but there is a limit to that patience. His vote: No.
Pampanga Rep. Reynaldo Aquino: He is a neophyte in the House but believes that his vote will work toward a consensus. His vote is one of conscience, of truth and honor. No side has exclusive possession of all these. This is a time for decisiveness and sobriety. We cannot afford any more protracted debate. We should set our priorities right or we perish. His vote: Yes
Sulu Rep. Abdukmunir Arbison: He believes in the justice committee report and that it will advance democracy His vote: Yes
Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo: We all have a conscience and the fifth district of Negros Occidental votes Yes.
Manila Rep. Rodolfo Bacani: The President has asked that the accusations against her be discussed in the proper forum. He revealed previously the intention to kill the impeachment complaint through technicalities. This is what happened on Aug. 30. The impeachment is the only remaining legal process to shed light on the issues that had been raised against the President. Unless she answers these accusations, she cannot get the people’s support. Instead, a cloud of doubt will hang over her and will reduce whatever confidence is left in her leadership. His vote: No.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Alipio Badelles: Our country cannot continue to be held hostage by this political crisis. Congress should now focus on equally important matters such as the rising cost of electricity and oil. Debating endlessly on whether the President cheated will not help his constituents. His vote: Yes
Agusan del Norte Leovigildo Banaag: He has seen seven impeachment complaints in his years in Congress, and always, the rule of the majority has been upheld. Those who are for impeachment may not have a good case. Congress must move decisively. The President has already taken a severe beating. In a week, she will be presiding a meeting in the United Nations and we should rally behind her. His vote: Yes
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers: It was a great honor to fight for the truth. We have not lost the battle, but the leadership shown by the minority will inspire the people to continue the search for truth. It is better to die for the truth than to be part of the multitude who lie and live forever. A wrong was admitted to on national television. It cannot be righted by another wrong. Let us allow justice to be rendered and give the President her much-needed day in court. His vote: No
Zamboanga del Norte Roseller Barinaga: Given the hour, he did not explain his vote: Yes.
Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina: The opposition has not been able to get the numbers for their complaint yet blame the majority and call them sordid names. The opposition should hopefully accept the verdict. His vote: Yes
Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran: The impeachment complaint was killed last week and will be buried today. Despite this shocking murder, the campaign to remove and replace her is not over. The fight has just begun. His vote: No
Source: PCIJ
