Impeachment complaint filed vs Arroyo amid tight security

(Update) MANILA, Philippines - Amid tight security, the fourth impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was filed at the House of Representatives in Quezon City early Monday morning. Radio dzBB's Rowena Salvacion reported that the complaint was officially filed at 7:40 a.m. before the office of the House secretary general. Deputy secretary general Ricardo Roque received the impeachment complaint, even as some of the complainants could not make it to the filing. Militant party list Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Liza Maza were present to endorse the complaint. One of the complainants, Edita Burgos, was not at the filing, the report said. Earlier, security was tight at the Batasan Complex early Monday as groups behind the latest impeachment complaint gathered to file it before the House of Representatives. Radio dzBB reported that another group "opposing" the impeachment complaint, calling itself the "Coalition Against Destabilization," also gathered nearby. With the complaint lodged, House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr will have 10 session days to refer it to the plenary, which in turn has three days to refer it to the justice committee. The justice committee will have 60 days to decide if the complaint is sufficient in form and substance. "Di pa kami pinapapasok ngayon, hinihintay ang staff ng secretariat (We were denied entry to the Batasan Complex. The guards are waiting for the secretariat)," Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, who joined those behind the impeachment complaint, said in an earlier interview on dzXL radio, before they were allowed to enter the House complex. Suplico said pro-impeachment groups who gathered at the Batasan complex early included militant and civil society groups, and ZTE deal whistleblower Jose de Venecia III. He said the impeachment complaint covered a wide range of issues including extra-judicial killings, disappearances, torture, massacres, and illegal arrests. "Patuloy ito (These practices are ongoing)," he said. He also said at least three lawmakers are due to endorse the complaint. For his part, civil society lawyer Harry Roque Jr laughed off Palace claims that he is filing the complaint "in aid of election" in 2010. "Ang administrasyon na ito pag may krisis ito talaga pinagsasamantalahan. Kaya nagkakaroon ng pagnanakaw sa fertilizer, swine at seedling scam (This administration has taken advantage of so many crises. That's why we have scams involving fertilizer, swine and seedlings)," Roque said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He also voiced confidence the complaint will be sufficient in form, and that Malacañang will have a hard time thinking of an excuse to junk it. "Kung ibabasura nila ito ibabasura sa ibang kadahilanan, di sa technicality or kawalan ng ebidensya (If the Palace's allies in the House will junk this complaint, it won't be because of a technicality or because of lack of evidence)," he said. On the other hand, he contested Palace claims he is filing the complaint because of political plans for 2010. "Ako ay isang professor ng batas, at nananahimik (I'm just a law professor living a quiet life)," he said, adding he wants to stop corruption just so he can return to that quiet life. He also contested Palace claims that now is not the right time for the complaint. "On the contrary ang laban para sa good governance, lalo dapat patindihin (On the contrary, the fight for good governance must be intensified now)," he said. Lozano also files case On Monday night, QTV's News on Q reported that lawyer Oliver Lozano also filed an impeachment case against Arroyo. The report said that Lozano sent his complaint via mail. The Lozano complaint was the consolidation of two cases he earlier filed - on Feb 26 and Aug 8. The Feb 26 case was based on Mrs Arroyo's admission that she signed the ZTE deal despite advice that there was irregularity. Lozano's Aug 8 case was based on the President's admission that there was an error in the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Lozano maintained that his case was filed earlier than the case filed Roque and his group, adding that he avoided presenting "voluminous" pieces of evidence so that the case would be easily decided. - GMANews.TV