November 14, 2006 - WITH a bang of the House Speaker’s gavel, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday became the first Philippine President to be impeached.
The Articles of Impeachment will be forwarded to the Senate for a trial to decide whether the President should be removed from office on corruption charges.
Speaker Jose de Venecia swiftly moved to impeach the President after leading a prayer as several hundreds of pro-and anti-Arroyo demonstrators protested outside the Batasang Pambansa Building.
Without missing a beat, de Venecia read an order for the House secretary-general "to immediately transmit to the Senate the Impeachment complaint constituting the articles of Impeachment" before banging the gavel to cut off any further debate.
Stunned pro-administration lawmakers, who were geared up for a heated debate, were unable to stop Villar. An attempt by Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Abayon to question de Venecia’s action was drowned by cheers from people in the gallery.
"It’s official now that the Impeachment rap is with the Senate," de Venecia said. "It’s now up to the Senate to start the trial. We have indicted the President."
In the Impeachment complaint, the President is accused of bribery, graft and corrupt practices, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
The complaint was filed on Oct. 18 after Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit’ Singson accused the President of accepting more than P500 million in "jueteng" payoffs and tobacco tax kickbacks.
The Senate received the Articles of Impeachment last night.
Newly elected Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the Impeachment trial could be finished before Dec. 31 if the trial begins on Dec. 1.
Pimentel said the whole month of November could be used in approving the Impeachment trial rules.
He said the Senate will discuss the proposed Impeachment trial rules today.
After reading the order to transmit the Impeachment complaint to the Senate, Villar adjourned the session at 4:10 p.m., less than 10 minutes after the session started.
Heroic act
"It’s a great heroic act that Manny Villar did," said Vice President Noli de Castro, leader of the United Opposition that has called on Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s to step down.
The Vice President said she did not expect the House approval of the Impeachment complaint to be "as dramatic as that."
Militant groups also praised Villar and other legislators who signed the Impeachment complaint.
"Finally, Congress stood for what is right and good for the country. We are glad that at this juncture, the representatives were able to rise above their selfish interests and listened to the people’s clamor to remove . . . (the) President from power," the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said in a statement.
Opposition congressmen prayed and lit candles near a Philippine flag before walking into the House chamber. They wore peach-colored ribbons on their shirts signifying their struggle to "impeach" Mr. Estrada.
No vote was held by the full House on an Impeachment declaration, although one had been expected.
Villar said no vote was necessary because more than the required one-third of the House’s members had signed a petition endorsing the President’s Impeachment.
A total of 77 representatives of the 218-member House signed the Impeachment complaint, or more than the 73 signatures needed to bring the articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
Asked why there was no vote, he said that they already had 77 verified signatures. "It’s not necessary and it was just a notification," he said during the break. But a total of 115 legislators said they supported the Impeachment complaint.
Opposition Rep. Heherson Alvarez, a sponsor of the Impeachment complaint, said a vote on an Impeachment resolution would have delayed the process.
"What’s important is we have notified the Senate that President Estrada is impeached," he said. "The only thing lacking is the trial and judgment for him."
Overwhelmed
Manila Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo said administration lawmakers were apparently overwhelmed by the very emotional response of the people in the gallery who cheered, stood and clapped as Villar read his endorsement speech.
She said her colleagues probably had second thoughts about questioning Villar’s move "when you have a crowd like this ready for blood."
But other administration lawmakers warned Villar that the Impeachment complaint he transmitted to the Senate could be questioned because he did not follow the rules of the House.
Prayer
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said Villar in fact transmitted a prayer, which he read after opening the session yesterday afternoon.
"He was reading a prayer. He did not say amen after the prayer. He just made us sit down and began telling us that he is elevating the Impeachment complaint to the Senate," Albano said in Filipino.
"A prayer cannot constitute the Articles of Impeachment. Will the Senate now accept a prayer in lieu of a resolution?" Albano asked.
Ocampo pointed out that after the prayer was read on the floor, a roll call should have followed.
But she said Villar did not call the roll. After reading the lengthy prayer, he asked the people in the session hall to sit down.
Congressman Abayon of Samar, sensing that Villar was no longer reading a prayer but was actually endorsing the Impeachment complaint, attempted to question the Speaker but was loudly booed by people in the gallery.
Members of nongovernment organizations, which gathered at the gallery, also began chanting "Erap Resign," effectively drowning Villar’s voice as he read a speech endorsing the complaint to the Senate.
"Abayon was trying to raise a point of order but under the rules, you cannot raise a point of order during a prayer," Albano said.
Prior to the session, North Cotabato Rep. Anthony Dequiña said Villar had a talk with lawmakers opposing his leadership, apparently to strike a deal with them not to call for his ouster before the Impeachment complaint is approved on the floor.
Dequiña said Villar had asked that he be allowed to preside during the singing of the national anthem and to read the prayer.
"Ang ganda ng usapan namin (We had a nice talk). He said ‘let me just open the session. After the anthem and the prayer, I will call for a recess and we will talk,’" a fuming Dequiña told reporters after Villar suspended the session.
Dequiña said Villar offered that bargain because he had learned that lawmakers calling for his ouster were to present another resolution showing him that majority of the House members no longer supported him.
"Now he suspended the session after single-handedly elevating the Impeachment to the Senate. Where is he now? Do you think he will still return after this riot he has caused," Dequiña said in Filipino.
Asked if his move was valid, Villar said: "We follow the Constitution. The Constitution is the highest law of the land."
Administration lawmakers planned to replace de Venecia with Davao City 1st District Rep. Prospero C. Nograles had they succeeded in calling for a reorganization of the House following the approval of the Impeachment complaint.
Fuentebella’s family arrived at the session hall in formal clothes, apparently expecting that he would be sworn in as the new Speaker.
Correct move
In Davao City, Carlos Isagani Zarate, vice president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Davao City, said Villar and other anti-Estrada lawmakers did the wise and correct move.
"It was a saving grace of the House which in the past had been regarded as the bastion of the trapos (traditional politicians)," Zarate said.
Alvin Luque, Bayan-Davao City secretary general, hailed Villar and the anti-Estrada legislators as "heroes."
Joji Ilagan-Bian, chair of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC), said the business community fully supported what Villar did. With reports Juliet L. Javellana in Manila; and Jowel F. Canuday, PDI Mindanao Bureau
The Articles of Impeachment will be forwarded to the Senate for a trial to decide whether the President should be removed from office on corruption charges.
Speaker Jose de Venecia swiftly moved to impeach the President after leading a prayer as several hundreds of pro-and anti-Arroyo demonstrators protested outside the Batasang Pambansa Building.
Without missing a beat, de Venecia read an order for the House secretary-general "to immediately transmit to the Senate the Impeachment complaint constituting the articles of Impeachment" before banging the gavel to cut off any further debate.
Stunned pro-administration lawmakers, who were geared up for a heated debate, were unable to stop Villar. An attempt by Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Abayon to question de Venecia’s action was drowned by cheers from people in the gallery.
"It’s official now that the Impeachment rap is with the Senate," de Venecia said. "It’s now up to the Senate to start the trial. We have indicted the President."
In the Impeachment complaint, the President is accused of bribery, graft and corrupt practices, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
The complaint was filed on Oct. 18 after Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit’ Singson accused the President of accepting more than P500 million in "jueteng" payoffs and tobacco tax kickbacks.
The Senate received the Articles of Impeachment last night.
Newly elected Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the Impeachment trial could be finished before Dec. 31 if the trial begins on Dec. 1.
Pimentel said the whole month of November could be used in approving the Impeachment trial rules.
He said the Senate will discuss the proposed Impeachment trial rules today.
After reading the order to transmit the Impeachment complaint to the Senate, Villar adjourned the session at 4:10 p.m., less than 10 minutes after the session started.
Heroic act
"It’s a great heroic act that Manny Villar did," said Vice President Noli de Castro, leader of the United Opposition that has called on Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s to step down.
The Vice President said she did not expect the House approval of the Impeachment complaint to be "as dramatic as that."
Militant groups also praised Villar and other legislators who signed the Impeachment complaint.
"Finally, Congress stood for what is right and good for the country. We are glad that at this juncture, the representatives were able to rise above their selfish interests and listened to the people’s clamor to remove . . . (the) President from power," the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said in a statement.
Opposition congressmen prayed and lit candles near a Philippine flag before walking into the House chamber. They wore peach-colored ribbons on their shirts signifying their struggle to "impeach" Mr. Estrada.
No vote was held by the full House on an Impeachment declaration, although one had been expected.
Villar said no vote was necessary because more than the required one-third of the House’s members had signed a petition endorsing the President’s Impeachment.
A total of 77 representatives of the 218-member House signed the Impeachment complaint, or more than the 73 signatures needed to bring the articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
Asked why there was no vote, he said that they already had 77 verified signatures. "It’s not necessary and it was just a notification," he said during the break. But a total of 115 legislators said they supported the Impeachment complaint.
Opposition Rep. Heherson Alvarez, a sponsor of the Impeachment complaint, said a vote on an Impeachment resolution would have delayed the process.
"What’s important is we have notified the Senate that President Estrada is impeached," he said. "The only thing lacking is the trial and judgment for him."
Overwhelmed
Manila Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo said administration lawmakers were apparently overwhelmed by the very emotional response of the people in the gallery who cheered, stood and clapped as Villar read his endorsement speech.
She said her colleagues probably had second thoughts about questioning Villar’s move "when you have a crowd like this ready for blood."
But other administration lawmakers warned Villar that the Impeachment complaint he transmitted to the Senate could be questioned because he did not follow the rules of the House.
Prayer
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said Villar in fact transmitted a prayer, which he read after opening the session yesterday afternoon.
"He was reading a prayer. He did not say amen after the prayer. He just made us sit down and began telling us that he is elevating the Impeachment complaint to the Senate," Albano said in Filipino.
"A prayer cannot constitute the Articles of Impeachment. Will the Senate now accept a prayer in lieu of a resolution?" Albano asked.
Ocampo pointed out that after the prayer was read on the floor, a roll call should have followed.
But she said Villar did not call the roll. After reading the lengthy prayer, he asked the people in the session hall to sit down.
Congressman Abayon of Samar, sensing that Villar was no longer reading a prayer but was actually endorsing the Impeachment complaint, attempted to question the Speaker but was loudly booed by people in the gallery.
Members of nongovernment organizations, which gathered at the gallery, also began chanting "Erap Resign," effectively drowning Villar’s voice as he read a speech endorsing the complaint to the Senate.
"Abayon was trying to raise a point of order but under the rules, you cannot raise a point of order during a prayer," Albano said.
Prior to the session, North Cotabato Rep. Anthony Dequiña said Villar had a talk with lawmakers opposing his leadership, apparently to strike a deal with them not to call for his ouster before the Impeachment complaint is approved on the floor.
Dequiña said Villar had asked that he be allowed to preside during the singing of the national anthem and to read the prayer.
"Ang ganda ng usapan namin (We had a nice talk). He said ‘let me just open the session. After the anthem and the prayer, I will call for a recess and we will talk,’" a fuming Dequiña told reporters after Villar suspended the session.
Dequiña said Villar offered that bargain because he had learned that lawmakers calling for his ouster were to present another resolution showing him that majority of the House members no longer supported him.
"Now he suspended the session after single-handedly elevating the Impeachment to the Senate. Where is he now? Do you think he will still return after this riot he has caused," Dequiña said in Filipino.
Asked if his move was valid, Villar said: "We follow the Constitution. The Constitution is the highest law of the land."
Administration lawmakers planned to replace de Venecia with Davao City 1st District Rep. Prospero C. Nograles had they succeeded in calling for a reorganization of the House following the approval of the Impeachment complaint.
Fuentebella’s family arrived at the session hall in formal clothes, apparently expecting that he would be sworn in as the new Speaker.
Correct move
In Davao City, Carlos Isagani Zarate, vice president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Davao City, said Villar and other anti-Estrada lawmakers did the wise and correct move.
"It was a saving grace of the House which in the past had been regarded as the bastion of the trapos (traditional politicians)," Zarate said.
Alvin Luque, Bayan-Davao City secretary general, hailed Villar and the anti-Estrada legislators as "heroes."
Joji Ilagan-Bian, chair of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC), said the business community fully supported what Villar did. With reports Juliet L. Javellana in Manila; and Jowel F. Canuday, PDI Mindanao Bureau
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