House won’t endorse Lozano impeachment complaint
Lawmakers will not endorse the impeachment complaint filed against President Aquino by lawyer Oliver Lozano over the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which was struck down by the Supreme Court (SC) last week, for lack of substance.
Kabataan party- list Rep. Terry Ridon said his group has decided to ignore the impeachment complaint because it is weak.
“While we appreciate his effort in producing an impeachment complaint ahead of everyone, we believe his five-page verified complaint contains weak arguments and failed to meet the stringent standards set by the Constitution,” Ridon said.
He said other groups under the Makabayan bloc are not keen on endorsing Lozano’s complaint.
Instead, Ridon’s group, along with other youth organizations, will file a separate impeachment complaint against Aquino on July 14.
He said they are planning to file malversation charges against Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, the alleged architect of DAP.
Lozano delivered his impeachment complaint last Thursday to the lawmaker’s office seeking his endorsement.
The lawyer cited the President’s involvement in DAP, his failure to address the Zamboanga siege and the problems brought about by Super Typhoon Yolanda as the bases of his impeachment complaint.
“Initially, we considered having his complaint consolidated with the one we are drafting at the moment. But when we reviewed his complaint, it became apparent that it is insufficient in form and substance,” Ridon said.
He said Lozano’s arguments are weak and would not stand even a cursory review of the House committee on justice.
According to Ridon, Lozano did not even mention why Aquino committed culpable violation of the Constitution in spending P177 billion in DAP funds.
He said under the revised internal rules of the House on impeachment proceedings, individual impeachment complaints need to be consolidated first before the proceeding could start.
‘Plagiarism’
For his part, Lozano said Ridon may be charged with plagiarism if he will set aside his complaint.
The lawyer said he coursed his complaint to the lawmaker’s office after Ridon announced that he would endorse any impeachment complaint against the President.
“First, he acknowledged the complaint then later announced that he will not incorporate it to their complaint for lack of substance,” Lozano told he A .
“It is clear in my verified complain that the high court’s ruling on DAP will form part of the grounds of impeachment,” he added.
He said he has no problem if his complaint will be amended but he should be included as one of the complainants.
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday Malacañang may have lost the battle on the controversial DAP, but President Aquino is winning the war against corruption.
Cayetano said that instead of considering the SC decision as a defeat for the administration, people should look at it as “one of Aquino’s achievements in so far as the justice system in the country is concerned.”
He said the President could not be held liable for the DAP.
“DAP funds were spent in good faith and not stolen,” he said.
“The DAP was an honest mistake on the part of Malacañang because they adopted what the previous administrations did,” he added.
Meanwhile, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal yesterday urged lawmakers to refrain from issuing premature statements on the possible impeachment of President Aquino.
“In impeachment cases, lawmakers are actually acting as judges who, under the rules, should exercise neutrality of an impartial judge,” Macalintal said.
“Hence, any premature statement on whether or not the President could be impeached over the DAP deprives the Filipino people of an honest to goodness impeachment trial or one devoid of any political pressures and considerations,” he added.
Macalintal said both Houses of Congress should declare whether or not they agree with the SC decision declaring DAP as unconstitutional.
He said legislators who received DAP funds should make a detailed accounting of how, where and when the funds were disbursed.
“If they do not agree with the SC ruling then they should file a motion for reconsideration. In this way, people will know their stand on the issue,” Macalintal said. ith erseus cheminada Artemio umlao ayen aymalin