Philippines: Groups to File New impeach Raps vs Arroyo on Monday

Undeterred by the rejection of several amended and supplemental complaints, cause-oriented groups led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the human rights group Karapatan are set to file a new and comprehensive impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo tomorrow at the House of Representatives.

Bayan and Karapatan will be joined by former Vice president Teofisto Guingona, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, National Artist Bienvendio Lumbera and leaders of various mass formations as well as relatives of victims of human rights abuses. The Public Interest Law Center shall serve as counsel for the complainants.

The impeachment complaint is described as “comprehensive” because unlike the Pulido complaint, it includes human rights abuses as one of the principal charges against the president. The complaint also includes the previous issue of electoral fraud and the question of legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency. The complaint is expected to be filed as early as 8:00 am tomorrow. Representatives from partylist groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis are expected to endorse the complaint before the House

“The filing of the complaint serves to challenge the existing skewed impeachment rules of Congress. For more than two years now, the impeachment process has become a virtual rat race. He who files the first complaint effectively bars anyone from availing of the same process. We want this process to change,” said Bayan chair Carol Araullo, one of the complainants.

The complainants insist that multiple impeachment complaints should be allowed if these form part of one impeachment proceedings. They are also in favor of consolidating several complaints so long as these form part of one impeachment proceedings.

“We challenge House Speaker Jose de Venecia not to bar the filing of the complaint. He must fulfill his ministerial duty of the referring the complaint to the Justice Committee. Besides, he has been calling for a moral revolution against corruption. The impeachment process has the same goal of weeding out corruption in the executive,” Araullo said.

If the House Secretary General refuses to accept the impeachment complaint, the complainants said they would go to the Supreme Court.

“The House of Representatives will get a bigger headache by simply barring this new impeachment complaint. We won’t give up the fight that easily. House officials will first have to explain in writing why they are barring this new complaint. They should be careful before they hastily dismiss this complaint. Their actions will form the basis of our going to the Supreme Court,” Reyes added.

“This government must know that all means of making Mrs. Arroyo accountable will be exhausted by the people,” Reyes added.