Groups want MOA-AD in Arroyo impeach raps

MANILA, Philippines - A group of civil society representatives and political bloggers sought Wednesday to include the junked deal on ancestral domain in the latest impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Radio dzBB's Rowena Salvacion reported that the group, accompanied by Jose de Venecia III, prepared a motion for intervention for the impeachment complaint filed last Oct. 13. "Malakas ang basehan dito, Korte Suprema mismo nag-rule na unconstitutional ito. Ang ating presidente should be held accountable for this violation of the Constitution (We have strong basis for this. The Supreme Court itself ruled that this was unconstitutional. The president should be held accountable for this violation of the Constitution)," de Venecia was quoted in the report as saying. De Venecia was referring to the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which the High Court described as unconstitutional. De Venecia said those behind the motion for intervention included retired Lt. Gen. Fortunato Abat, and bloggers Manuel Quezon III and Edwin Lacierda. He said the motion does not constitute a separate complaint, adding they sought to include the MOA-AD in the complaint, now that the High Court had ruled on it. De Venecia said that when they filed the complaint last Oct. 13, the High Court had not yet ruled on MOA-AD. But he said they had to file it at the time lest so-called Palace allies beat them to the draw by filing a weak impeachment complaint. The latest impeachment complaint also has the support of de Venecia's father, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, who arrived from the United States before dawn Wednesday. The impeachment complaint is based on the alleged irregularities under the Arroyo administration, including the ZTE national broadband deal anomaly, human rights violations, the ZTE-Diwalwal mining contract, the North Rail Project, the fertilizer fund scam, the so-called “Hello Garci" controversy, and the alleged bribery of congressmen. Aside from the younger de Venecia, the complainants include civil society lawyer Harry Roque, Rolex Suplico, and other civil society leaders. - GMANews.TV