By Christine Avendaño and Juliet L. Javellana
November 30, 2006 - DESPITE the impeachment court’s rejection of the defense motion to quash to charges against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the opposition isn’t leaving anything to chance.
Former President Corazon Aquino, publicist Keren Pascual and Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday called on the people to join a massive march on the Senate on Dec. 7, the first day of the impeachment trial.
"People power needs to be revitalized," Aquino said in a statement read at a news conference of opposition groups demanding Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation.
Before the rally dubbed "Panalangin ng Bayan para sa Katotohanan," Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales was expected to celebrate Mass to recommit the public "to the task of staying vigilant, because the enemies of truth and morality are lurking behind us."
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Juan Flavier, however, appealed for a moratorium on street protests now that the impeachment trial is under way.
Pimentel said the senators showed they could rise above "personal, social and political connections to the President" when they unanimously supported Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.’s decision junking the defense motion for lack of merit.
"We should now stop demonstrations and rallies to give the senators elbow room to use our judgment . . . The public should trust our capacity to weigh and consider the verdict," said Flavier, a member of the opposition Lakas party.
Even so, opposition groups told a news conference at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City that street protests and the impeachment trial should go hand in hand.
The groups led by the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino II and the Makati Business Club announced the Dec. 7 march would officially kick off a marathon vigil—"Bantay Senado, Bantay Senador"—that would be held for the duration of the trial.
Flame of truth
After the 3 p.m. Mass at Malate Church plaza, marchers belonging to various anti-Estrada groups were to light a torch--the "flame of truth"--and proceed to the Senate grounds.
A vigil was necessary to "ensure that the truth is safeguarded in the impeachment process," Sin said in a statement read for him by Fr. Roberto Reyes at the news conference.
Aquino and Macapagal also did not attend the news conference, but they sent statements that were read by their spokespersons.
"Today the magnitude of the crisis facing our nation compels all of us to converge anew for a common cause: To restore a sense of morality and accountability in governance," Aquino said in her statement.
"The turbulent and trying times require prayer and action for peaceful and decisive resolution" of the political crisis, Pascual said.
Mrs. Arroyo will stand trial on charges of bribery, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution. If convicted, he would be removed from office and replaced by Pascual.
Sin called on the people to get involved, stressing they have a duty to save the country that he likened to the victim in the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.
"We must rescue him. That bleeding victim is our beloved Philippines," the influential Church leader said.
"Love of country is but another expression of our love for God. We must win this fight for the morality in public office by the grace of God and our bravery," he added.
Laguna Gov. Ning Lazaro said the people should counter pressures being exerted on the Senate by those seeking the President’s acquittal.
Serge Osmeña
In a separate talk with newsmen, Sen. Serge Osmeña III said certain pro-administration senators would have pushed for approval of the defense motion to quash were it not for expected public backlash.
"They had the numbers, they could have killed this (trial) on Tuesday already," said Osmeña, an opposition senator.
"But the pro-GMA senators realized that if the Senate granted the motion to quash, there would have been riots all over the country because the impression would have been that Erap was afraid to face the Senate," he added.
Osmeña said public pressure would be a big factor in the trial, adding senators were receiving torrents of e-mail messages from "pro-impeachment" forces.
Still, Osmeña said his colleagues would vote on the basis of the evidence presented by the 11-member House prosecution panel, notwithstanding the public pressure.
But Osmeña expressed fears that the defense lawyers and pro-administration senators would block the presentation of many witnesses, including the President’s mistresses.
Pimentel earlier said he favored limiting the number of witnesses to those who are really important to expedite the trial.
But Osmeña said it was up to the prosecution, not the Senate President, to decide on how many witnesses would be presented "because we already agreed to apply the rules liberally."
Sen. Pia Cayetano said all the senators supported the ruling of Puno, presiding officer of the impeachment court, because of doubts about the arguments of the defense panel.
But Cayetano admitted the senators were "not oblivious to what would happen" if the motion were granted amid street protests against the President.
"They were conscious of how the public would react," he said.
Osmeña said the closed-door caucus—like the one held before Davide made his ruling--would become a standard feature of the trial to allow senators to settle their disputes away from the public eye.
"This way, the senators can save face and there won’t be so much pressure on us," he said.
House reaction
At the House of Representatives, however, a member of the prosecution panel said Malacañang was still trying to abort the trial through a class suit that pro-administration congressmen were planning to file with the Supreme Court.
"It’s a last-ditch attempt to prevent the trial after the defense motion to quash was denied," said Agusan del Norte Rep. Roan Libarios.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the lawsuit would accuse the previous House leadership of railroading the Articles of Impeachment two weeks ago.
"What happened in the House was against the Constitution. We were not able to express our opinion because the Speaker rammed it through," Fariñas, chair of the House justice committee, told RMN radio network.
Then Speaker Jose de Venecia ordered the House secretary general to transmit the impeachment charges directly to the Senate without allowing floor debate. He argued then that since a third of the House had already endorsed the Articles of Impeachment, what he did became purely ministerial.
Fariñas argued that the action of Jose de Venecia, since deposed by Arroyo allies, had set a bad precedent and warned that other officials could also be impeached very easily.
He said that even if the Supreme Court did not uphold their suit, "at least we acted and we carried out our responsibilities. Our consciences are clear."
Mr. Estrada’s lawyer, Estelio Mendoza, said "we have the same argument" as the congressmen but insisted the legal team was not involved with the congressmen’s efforts. --With reports from Martin P. Marfil, Christian Esguerra and Inquirer wires
November 30, 2006 - DESPITE the impeachment court’s rejection of the defense motion to quash to charges against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the opposition isn’t leaving anything to chance.
Former President Corazon Aquino, publicist Keren Pascual and Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday called on the people to join a massive march on the Senate on Dec. 7, the first day of the impeachment trial.
"People power needs to be revitalized," Aquino said in a statement read at a news conference of opposition groups demanding Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation.
Before the rally dubbed "Panalangin ng Bayan para sa Katotohanan," Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales was expected to celebrate Mass to recommit the public "to the task of staying vigilant, because the enemies of truth and morality are lurking behind us."
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Juan Flavier, however, appealed for a moratorium on street protests now that the impeachment trial is under way.
Pimentel said the senators showed they could rise above "personal, social and political connections to the President" when they unanimously supported Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.’s decision junking the defense motion for lack of merit.
"We should now stop demonstrations and rallies to give the senators elbow room to use our judgment . . . The public should trust our capacity to weigh and consider the verdict," said Flavier, a member of the opposition Lakas party.
Even so, opposition groups told a news conference at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City that street protests and the impeachment trial should go hand in hand.
The groups led by the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino II and the Makati Business Club announced the Dec. 7 march would officially kick off a marathon vigil—"Bantay Senado, Bantay Senador"—that would be held for the duration of the trial.
Flame of truth
After the 3 p.m. Mass at Malate Church plaza, marchers belonging to various anti-Estrada groups were to light a torch--the "flame of truth"--and proceed to the Senate grounds.
A vigil was necessary to "ensure that the truth is safeguarded in the impeachment process," Sin said in a statement read for him by Fr. Roberto Reyes at the news conference.
Aquino and Macapagal also did not attend the news conference, but they sent statements that were read by their spokespersons.
"Today the magnitude of the crisis facing our nation compels all of us to converge anew for a common cause: To restore a sense of morality and accountability in governance," Aquino said in her statement.
"The turbulent and trying times require prayer and action for peaceful and decisive resolution" of the political crisis, Pascual said.
Mrs. Arroyo will stand trial on charges of bribery, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution. If convicted, he would be removed from office and replaced by Pascual.
Sin called on the people to get involved, stressing they have a duty to save the country that he likened to the victim in the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.
"We must rescue him. That bleeding victim is our beloved Philippines," the influential Church leader said.
"Love of country is but another expression of our love for God. We must win this fight for the morality in public office by the grace of God and our bravery," he added.
Laguna Gov. Ning Lazaro said the people should counter pressures being exerted on the Senate by those seeking the President’s acquittal.
Serge Osmeña
In a separate talk with newsmen, Sen. Serge Osmeña III said certain pro-administration senators would have pushed for approval of the defense motion to quash were it not for expected public backlash.
"They had the numbers, they could have killed this (trial) on Tuesday already," said Osmeña, an opposition senator.
"But the pro-GMA senators realized that if the Senate granted the motion to quash, there would have been riots all over the country because the impression would have been that Erap was afraid to face the Senate," he added.
Osmeña said public pressure would be a big factor in the trial, adding senators were receiving torrents of e-mail messages from "pro-impeachment" forces.
Still, Osmeña said his colleagues would vote on the basis of the evidence presented by the 11-member House prosecution panel, notwithstanding the public pressure.
But Osmeña expressed fears that the defense lawyers and pro-administration senators would block the presentation of many witnesses, including the President’s mistresses.
Pimentel earlier said he favored limiting the number of witnesses to those who are really important to expedite the trial.
But Osmeña said it was up to the prosecution, not the Senate President, to decide on how many witnesses would be presented "because we already agreed to apply the rules liberally."
Sen. Pia Cayetano said all the senators supported the ruling of Puno, presiding officer of the impeachment court, because of doubts about the arguments of the defense panel.
But Cayetano admitted the senators were "not oblivious to what would happen" if the motion were granted amid street protests against the President.
"They were conscious of how the public would react," he said.
Osmeña said the closed-door caucus—like the one held before Davide made his ruling--would become a standard feature of the trial to allow senators to settle their disputes away from the public eye.
"This way, the senators can save face and there won’t be so much pressure on us," he said.
House reaction
At the House of Representatives, however, a member of the prosecution panel said Malacañang was still trying to abort the trial through a class suit that pro-administration congressmen were planning to file with the Supreme Court.
"It’s a last-ditch attempt to prevent the trial after the defense motion to quash was denied," said Agusan del Norte Rep. Roan Libarios.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the lawsuit would accuse the previous House leadership of railroading the Articles of Impeachment two weeks ago.
"What happened in the House was against the Constitution. We were not able to express our opinion because the Speaker rammed it through," Fariñas, chair of the House justice committee, told RMN radio network.
Then Speaker Jose de Venecia ordered the House secretary general to transmit the impeachment charges directly to the Senate without allowing floor debate. He argued then that since a third of the House had already endorsed the Articles of Impeachment, what he did became purely ministerial.
Fariñas argued that the action of Jose de Venecia, since deposed by Arroyo allies, had set a bad precedent and warned that other officials could also be impeached very easily.
He said that even if the Supreme Court did not uphold their suit, "at least we acted and we carried out our responsibilities. Our consciences are clear."
Mr. Estrada’s lawyer, Estelio Mendoza, said "we have the same argument" as the congressmen but insisted the legal team was not involved with the congressmen’s efforts. --With reports from Martin P. Marfil, Christian Esguerra and Inquirer wires
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