'JDV endorsement of impeachment complaint not necessary’

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said the failure of former Speaker Jose de Venecia’w failure to endorse the latest impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should not hinder the progress of the case. “Legally, it’s no longer needed. One endorsement would suffice. It (impeachment complaint) does not require the signature of the (former) Speaker," said Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chairman of the House committee on justice. De Venecia’s businessman-son Jose III earlier said that his father will prepare the endorsement “in front of the (Philippine) consular office in San Francisco (in the US)." Allies of Mrs. Arroyo in the House of Representatives, however, belittled de Venecia’s endorsement as a mere “propaganda" to make it appear that the Pangasinan congressman could still convince lawmakers to help remove Mrs. Arroyo from office. The older de Venecia could not categorically say if he could muster the needed 80 votes to impeach Mrs. Arroyo, as this is the requirement for an impeachment complaint to prosper, a one-third vote of the 240-member House. During the speakership fight last February, de Venecia only garnered around 32 votes, mostly from the 28-member opposition. He was deserted by most of his loyal allies in the the Lakas party, which he himself formed in 1992. Lakas has more than 100 members. So far, the de Venecia impeachment complaint has been endorsed by mostly militant lawmakers, among them Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiňo, and women’s group Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza. In 2005, it was former Alagad Rep. Rodante Marcoleta who endorsed the alleged bogus impeachment complaint of Marcos loyalist lawyer Oliver Lozano. In 2007, it was Laguna Rep. Edgar San Luis who endorsed the alleged defective complaint of lawyer Ruel Pulido. The younger de Venecia, a whistleblower who lost the bidding in the bungled $329 million NBN scandal, said his father changed his mind after talking to religious leaders, who said there is a higher national interest than that of his personal interest. “Even congressmen from the minority believe that my father’s endorsement would strengthen the complaint (against President Arroyo)," he said. “Aside from calls, he also made a discernment on his own, and talked to some people close to him." The former Speaker will be back in Manila either on Nov. 6 or 7. De Venecia said his father is in the US, where he will be attending a speaking engagement, and is working on a book. “That’s why he is meeting with the publishers (in the US)." House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora earlier expressed exasperation after de Venecia left for the US on the day he announced that he would endorse the complaint, because he failed to affix his signature on the impeachment complaint. The lone San Juan congressman said it was a good thing they haven’t considered the former Speaker an endorser yet until and unless he has signed the document. “Akala namin pumirma na, hindi pa pala, baka pinag-iisipan pa?" - GMANews.TV