Gov’t moves to block impeachment effort

Moving to block impeachment, the government prepared yesterday to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.

Separate investigations of Singson have been initiated by Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

At the House of Representatives, administration congressmen succeeded in gagging Singson yesterday as he prepared to testify and present his evidence of alleged jueteng payoffs to the President.

Malacañang admitted it was mobilizing the President’s allies in a bid to block impeachment initiatives.

Unfazed, the opposition’s Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez said he will file today a consolidated impeachment case against the President. The case will include Singson’s allegations as well as the Best World Resources scandal and reports on questionable presidential assets as presented by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

First Lady Luisa Ejercito stood by her embattled husband, saying he was being "battered" by Singson’s allegations. She said she postponed a trip to Iraq to be by her husband’s side – a rare show of support after reports of their marital troubles. tween them.

As this developed, the Ombudsman formed a panel to investigate Singson’s accusations against the President.

But Desierto said he will also probe a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) that Singson allegedly spent P2.1 billion in tax money that remained unaccounted for.

In addition, Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday to investigate Singson for a possible violation of the law against wiretapping.

And Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim has ordered Undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr. to determine the extent of Singson’s involvement in jueteng.

Although Desierto has the power to investigate a sitting President for alleged misdeeds, he said he decided to let Congress, which has the authority to initiate impeachment proceedings, to take the lead.

Desierto said if Singson applies for immunity in exchange for his cooperation, his application "would be carefully evaluated within the context of the requirements of the law and the rules of court, particularly on the extent of the guilt of Singson."

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora denied that Malacañang was getting back at Singson by auditing the governor’s use of government funds.

"We have not come out with any graft charges against Governor Singson. These were based on COA reports. It could readily be seen in the COA reports if there is truth to these allegations of COA or not," Zamora said.

Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. accused Singson of trying to divert attention from the COA report by accusing the President of wrongdoing.

"COA was really on the point of coming out with this report. That is why the suspicion by the auditors that what Governor Singson was saying was an effort precisely to divert attention from this COA report," said Puno.

For his part, Tuquero said in a statement that he wanted Singson investigated by the NBI for recording his conversation with the President’s auditor, Yolanda Ricaforte.

Ricaforte was heard on tape, played by Singson during a press conference last Monday, allegedly arranging Singson’s jueteng payment to Mr. Estrada. Singson could be imprisoned for up to six years if convicted.

Majority party will rally behind its leader – Dong

Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace that there is nothing surprising or illegal with the President’s move to rally his supporters behind him.

Puno clarified that the President does not interfere with the internal affairs of Congress, a co-equal branch of government.

"It is not surprising that the majority party will rally behind its leader. That is done everywhere...all over the world where there is an effort to unseat a President. There is nothing wrong with that," Puno said.

He also said Malacañang was already taking preemptive moves for any eventuality that the impeachment bid may gain ground.

"We’re preparing a battery of lawyers, a legal team to be assembled, and tactics and strategies in the event the impeachment proceeding pushes through," Puno said even as he admitted the move was premature.

He claimed that Singson’s revelations were instigated by the political opposition.

Puno also reiterated his allegations that Singson’s charges, which were repeated during yesterday’s inquiry by the House committee on justice headed by Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez as chairman, were not supported by solid evidence.

"All of the statements and all of the information being floated really do not rise to the category of strong evidence against the President," Puno said.

During the same press briefing, Puno released to the media copies of a resolution passed by the League of Cities of the Philippines headed by Major Alipio Fernandez Jr. of Dagupan City reaffirming their loyalty to Mr. Estrada.

The resolution was apparently adopted during the city mayors’ 25th Sharing Workshop General Assembly held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manila.

Meanwhile, Alvarez who is secretary-general of Lakas-NUCD party, said the charges will include the complaints of Singson and various non-government organizations (NGO).

Snap elections pushed

For his part, Lakas spokesman Hernani Perez called on Mr. Estrada and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to voluntarily step down to pave the way for snap elections.

The NGO complaint will be endorsed by the so-called "Spice Boys" in the House of Representatives consisting of Representatives Michael Defensor (LP, Quezon City), Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon), Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Norte) and Rolando Andaya (Lakas, Camarines Sur).

On the other hand, Singson’s complaint will be endorsed by Alvarez and Lakas Representatives Ernesto Herrera of Bohol and Sergio Apostol of Leyte.

Alvarez expressed optimism that the impeachment measure will prosper if the House leadership including the Speaker "will allow the truth to come out."

But some administration congressmen said they wanted Alvarez to author the complaint himself so that they can easily vote it out for lack of merit as Alvarez did not have a personal knowledge of Singson’s allegations.

Alvarez was initially scheduled to file the impeachment raps yesterday, but some colleagues advised him against rushing the move.

Congressmen identified with the ruling party have predicted that the impeachment move would not prosper because of the overwhelming numbers of the majority party. They also cited the limited time left before Congress adjourns.

There are only 35 opposition congressmen as against the required 73, or one-third vote of the 219-member House for the impeachment bid to prosper.

Alvarez countered, however, that the alleged "limited time" was only meant to dampen the people’s enthusiasm over his impeachment initiative.

He argued that it would not take the Speaker forever to refer the complaint to the House committee on rules which, in turn, can refer the matter to the committee on justice in one or two days.

For its part, the justice committee may take one month to debate on the issue before endorsing it for floor deliberations.

"This is an issue of preeminent importance and very broad interest that Congress can be justified by acting decisively," Alvarez said.

"They employ a dampener. They’re trying to dampen the enthusiasm of the people. But the limited time should not get in the way. We should optimize the time left to hear the truth on this," Alvarez stressed.

Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo (Lakas, Valenzuela) said the hearing would harm the President. "This event will do more harm than good to the President. The public perception is that political minions of the President are out to save him at all cost at the expense of the truth," he said.

Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzalez said the majority congressmen merely wanted to please Mr. Estrada and set aside what was good for the greater number of people. "They thought they were doing service to the President, but they are actually making the suspicion against him grow larger."

Gonzalez also claimed that administration congressmen have unwittingly made Singson "bigger than life."

He said Golez’s committee does not have to convene another hearing on the case. "There’s no more reason to convene (again). Nothing came out from there and besides, the majority does not really want Singson to speak the truth."

Observers said the impeachment move was another blow to the already shaky investor confidence in the Philippines, as well as public support for Mr. Estrada.

Shocked Cory wants the truth

Former President Corazon Aquino said the disclosures made by Singson shocked her.

"The charges against the President are very serious and I await Governor Singson’s presentation of evidence in Congress," Aquino said in a statement.

"As the charges are indeed, very disturbing, our people deserve the truth about this issue at the soonest possible time," she added.

She called on everyone to pray for the country.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon called for sobriety among the people in the aftermath of Singson’s charges.

In a statement, Drilon said the allegations against the President , compounded by the Mindanao conflict and skyrocketing oil prices, were serious enough to inflict irreparable damage to the country’s political and economic life.

"The times demand sobriety and reason. Let us not be carried away by emotions because they hinder us from looking at things dispassionately and intelligently. Let us not be easily swayed by impulsive calls for sweeping action because they disregard the essential of the tenets of due process and the rule of law," Drilon said.

He urged his colleagues to set aside "partisanship and narrow interest," and called on the people to unite behind a bigger cause which is national interest.

Drilon viewed the unfolding events as not simply a quarrel among individuals, "but a battle for national unity and survival that may lead the country on the prospect of disintegration and civil strife."

"By all means, let us allow Governor Singson to substantiate his charges in the proper forum. In the same manner, let us afford President Estrada his basic right to defend himself," he stressed.

Deputy Speaker Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Singson’s allegations should not be taken liightly by Congress.

"These are allegations that should not be dismissed or taken lightly. Congress should hear and investigate it," Fuentes said in a radio interview in General Santos City.

She indicated, however, that the scandal was merely an offshoot of a squabble over division of the spoils.

"It’s very apparent there was some deception in the sharing of money. One was not able to get his share and he’s howling mad," Fuentes said.

She cast doubts on Singson’s motives, saying his actions appeared to be instigated by personal interest on the jueteng money and its operations.

She stressed that the controversy must be settled immediately before it totally devastates the country’s already ailing economy.

Herrera said if Singson could present concrete evidence, Mr. Estrada may be criminally prosecuted after his impeachment, along with other officials such as presidential son San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada and presidential accountant Yolanda Ricaforte.

"The only good thing that has come out of this for now is Malacañang’s sudden resolve to curb the proliferation of gambling, starting with the scrapping of the Bingo 2-Ball and hopefully soon, the other illegal forms of gambling like jueteng and masiao," Herrera said.

"I lament the fact that Malacañang was not able to answer any of the verbal accusations Governor Singson leveled against the President, instead of focusing on filing charges against Singson, and not even libel charges," the legislator said in a statement.

"To save the Presidency and the nation from further embarrassment, Mr. Estrada should just resign his mandate," he added.

Meanwhile, Mayor Lilia Pineda of Lubao, Pampanga denied that her husband, alleged gambling lord Bong Pineda, had fled to the United States.

The mayor said her husband merely had to undergo a vital medical checkup. She said she would be joining him abroad soon.

Singson claimed in his affidavit that Pineda had knowledge of the jueteng payoffs to the President and the First Family. –With reports from Allen Estabillo, Perseus Echeminada, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Teddy Molina, AP, AFP