Palace twits impeachment backers over 'timing'

MANILA, Philippines — Even as it claimed now is "not the right time" for politics, Malacañang insisted Saturday the latest impeachment complaint being readied against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said the backers of the complaint have so far shown no evidence to back the issues that will make up the impeachment complaint against Arroyo. "We are very sure it will not prosper once it is going to be discussed in detail sa Kongreso. Wala silang pinakitang ebidensya nang magmula sa kanila ang mikropono. I'm sure yan din ang kanilang ibibigay na akusasyon. We are confident it will not prosper (We are very sure it will not prosper once it is discussed in detail in Congress. Our critics have shown no evidence to back their claims ever since they got hold of the media microphones. I'm sure there will be nothing new in their accusations so we are confident the impeachment complaint will not prosper)," Golez said on government-run dzRB radio. He said the impeachment complaint is just the latest in a series of complaints from "pare-parehong mukha, pare-parehong hitsura ng kritiko ng pamahalaan (the same faces of our critics)." Golez added the Palace hopes the people will find out the "personal vested interests" of those behind the impeachment complaint. On the other hand, he said it is up to the technical level of Congress to see if the complaint will prosper. Also, Golez said now is not the right time to engage in an impeachment because the government is busy coping with the effects of a global financial crisis. "The president is so focused with her job. Lahat na gobyerno at pamahalaan ng buong mundo naka-focus sa nakaumang na krisis (The president is focused on her job. All governments around the world are racking their brains on how to cope with the crisis)," he said. "Now is the wrong time to be distracted. The president has been very, very successful in implementing her programs, putting up the best macroeconomic fundamentals for our country," he added. Still, he took a dig at the backers of the latest impeachment complaint, asking them "what's new" in this year's edition of the complaint. "Wala silang na-prove, it did not prosper in any of the official courts in the country. Ano ang bago sa binibintang nila (They proved nothing. Their charges did not prosper in court. What is new in their latest claims)?" he said. "Tatakbo ba sila sa 2010, that's why they are using other people for their ambition (Do they plan to run in 2010, that's why they are using other people for their ambition)?" he added. - GMANews.TV