The House of Representatives voted on 21 March 2011 (Monday) to impeach current Ombudsman chief Merceditas Gutierrez. And they did it overwhelmingly so.
Innuendos
Pork SMS. The plenary debates on House Resolution 1089 started at 5 PM. Representative Edcel Lagman (Lakas Kampi CMD-Albay) sought to stop the voting and asked the chamber to investigate text messages that circulated among lawmakers over the weekend that allegedly threatening them of being deprived of pork barrel funds if they do not vote in favor of the impeachment. Malacañang issued an official statement that it is not the policy of the administration to use the pork barrel to force congressmen to vote for the impeachment.
Senior Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong) said that the text message came from Representative Emilio Abaya (Cavite), who in turn strongly denied it as a mere disinformation. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte also received the text message. The text message read: "Fr, Cong. Abaya-Favor kindly disseminate to all reps - LP and non-LPs. Thisshud b made clear to all. Those who will vote no or absent/abstain on empeachment will get 0 as in zero. At least walang sisihan that there was no forewarning..." Belmonte had initiated an investigation to identify the true sender.
Pork SMS. The plenary debates on House Resolution 1089 started at 5 PM. Representative Edcel Lagman (Lakas Kampi CMD-Albay) sought to stop the voting and asked the chamber to investigate text messages that circulated among lawmakers over the weekend that allegedly threatening them of being deprived of pork barrel funds if they do not vote in favor of the impeachment. Malacañang issued an official statement that it is not the policy of the administration to use the pork barrel to force congressmen to vote for the impeachment.
Senior Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong) said that the text message came from Representative Emilio Abaya (Cavite), who in turn strongly denied it as a mere disinformation. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte also received the text message. The text message read: "Fr, Cong. Abaya-Favor kindly disseminate to all reps - LP and non-LPs. Thisshud b made clear to all. Those who will vote no or absent/abstain on empeachment will get 0 as in zero. At least walang sisihan that there was no forewarning..." Belmonte had initiated an investigation to identify the true sender.
To prevent Gutierrez supporters from delaying the proceedings, Gonzales motioned to start the consideration of the committee report, and Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Puentevella ordered so at past 6 PM.
INC. House members who received the calls confirmed that a high-ranking official of influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) called them asking to kill the impeachment of Gutierrez. Rodante Marcoleta (Alagad partylist), the only INC member in the House clarified that "it is never its policy to dictate on the House members. If indeed the calls were made, it was to urge the lawmakers and appeal to them to vote based on evidence, conviction and conscience."
INC. House members who received the calls confirmed that a high-ranking official of influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) called them asking to kill the impeachment of Gutierrez. Rodante Marcoleta (Alagad partylist), the only INC member in the House clarified that "it is never its policy to dictate on the House members. If indeed the calls were made, it was to urge the lawmakers and appeal to them to vote based on evidence, conviction and conscience."
The Vote
To have the Articles of Impeachment, including the Committee Report 778 of the House Committee on Justice, sent to the Senate for trial, the House needs 95 votes.
In Favor [YES]. 212 votes (80.9%)
Not In Favor [NO]. 46 (17.6%) | These congressmen include Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Lakas Kampi CMD-Pampanga), Rolando Andaya Jr. (Lakas Kampi CMD-Camarines Sur), Tobias Reynald Tiangco (PMP-Navotas), Orlando Fua, Sr. (Lakas Kampi CMF-Siquijor), Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla (NP-Cavite), Edcel Lagman (Lakas Kampi CMD-Albay), and Pablo Garcia (Cebu).
Abstained. 4 Representatives (1.5%) | Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (LP-Quezon City), Lani Mercado-Revilla (Lakas Kampi CMD-Cavite), Mark Villar (NP-Las Piñas) | Both Revilla and Villar appeared to abstain because both have family members as current senators who will be acting as Judge-Senators once the impeachment case begins trial in the Senate.
No Vote. The 22 representatives who did not register their vote included Imelda Marcos (KBL-Ilocos Norte) and Manny Pacquiao (LP-Saranggani).
The National Peoples' Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Liberal Party (LP) voted as a bloc. NPC and LP voted YES, while NP voted NO.
Sources
RG Cruz: "INC trying to stop Gutierrez impeachment?" ABS-CBN News 20 March 2011
Jocyce Pañares: "Palace delinks pork from impeachment," Manila Standard TOday 21 March 2011
Christine Herrera: "Iglesia rejects party voting on move to oust Gutierrez," Manila Standard Today 21 March 2011
No Vote. The 22 representatives who did not register their vote included Imelda Marcos (KBL-Ilocos Norte) and Manny Pacquiao (LP-Saranggani).
The National Peoples' Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Liberal Party (LP) voted as a bloc. NPC and LP voted YES, while NP voted NO.
Sources
RG Cruz: "INC trying to stop Gutierrez impeachment?" ABS-CBN News 20 March 2011
Jocyce Pañares: "Palace delinks pork from impeachment," Manila Standard TOday 21 March 2011
Christine Herrera: "Iglesia rejects party voting on move to oust Gutierrez," Manila Standard Today 21 March 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment