House panel votes to kill 4th impeachment rap vs Arroyo

(Updated 12:05 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The House Justice committee on Wednesday junked the fourth impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, declaring the complaint "insufficient in substance." Ending a marathon hearing on the impeachment complaint, the House Justice committee voted 42-8 dismissing the latest impeachment complaint against President Arroyo, effectively throwing it alongside similar complaints filed against the President in previous years. (Unofficial list of congressmen who voted for and against the junking of impeachment complaint against President Arroyo) The hearing was marred by renewed moves to disqualify members of the House Justice committee who were implicated in the alleged “cash gift" controversy in 2007 from voting on the impeachment complaint. The motion, filed by Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza, was denied by the panel chairman, saying the panel has no jurisdiction to decide on the matter. Earlier during the proceedings, House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora urged his colleagues to declare the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo sufficient in substance, saying this would give the President a chance to answer charges hurled against her. Summarizing the pro-impeachment panel's recital of facts prior to the voting on the impeachment complaint's substance, Zamora said it is in the interest of President Arroyo that she be afforded a venue to answer to charges presented against her in the complaint. "We have complied with the requirements of the Constitution and the Rules. Where do we go from here? If we are successful then we will now allow the President to answer these charges? It is in the interest of the nation, it is in the interest of the President herself that the issues in this complaint be answered," said Zamora. On the other hand, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the impeachment complaint merely contained "recycled grounds" which have previously been junked by the House Justice committee for insufficiency in substance. Summarizing the arguments of the anti-impeachment panel, Lagman said the latest complaint against President Arroyo should similarly be dismissed because it is “bereft of ultimate facts" which would show the culpability of the President and that would constitute a cause of action against her. “Exhumed carcasses must be laid back to the graveyard," Lagman said. - GMANews.TV