JDV may name solons in 'bogus' impeachment

MANILA, Philippines – Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. on Thursday threatened to identify the congressmen allegedly bribed to endorse a "sham and bogus" impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2007, radio dzBB reported. De Venecia made the statement amid a threat of expulsion from the House stemming from the claims he made on the purported bribery of congressmen. De Venecia made the allegations during the hearing of the fourth impeachment complaint against the President in November 2008. He said some congressmen and governors were bribed with P500,000 to endorse the "bogus" impeachment complaint lodged against President Arroyo by lawyer Roberto Rafael Pulido in 2007. De Venecia also alleged that the President was behind the reported bribery. De Venecia fell from Malacañang's graces after his son Jose III linked First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and other personalities close to Malacañang to the controversial $329 million NBN-ZTE deal. At present, the House Committee on Ethics is conducting an inquiry on the complaint against the former House speaker stemming from his bribery accusations against the congressmen. The complaint was from Agusan del Norte Rep. Edilmiro Amante, who made a privilege speech on Nov. 25 last year seeking De Venecia's expulsion from the House over the Pangasinan lawmaker's statements. The speech was referred to the House Ethics Committee. - GMANews.TV