Nograles not going on Peru trip
Cites impeachment, other pressing issues
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:39:00 11/21/2008
Filed Under: Travel & Commuting, Foreign affairs & international relations, Congress, Impeachment
MANILA, Philippines -- Speaker Prospero Nograles has begged off from the delegation joining President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her trip to Peru so he can attend to the impeachment process and other pressing issues at the House of the Representatives.
In a text message, Nograles said seven other lawmakers are going with Arroyo, who is attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting. They are Representatives Amelita Villarosa (Occidental Mindoro), Rodolfo Antonino (Nueva Ecija), Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte), Ma. Rachel Arenas (Pangasinan), Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (Pampanga), Hermilando Mandanas (Batangas), and Monico Puentevella (Bacolod).
"Truthfully, the impeachment process is a more urgent matter to me as the Speaker of the House because this is the first one under my watch and former Speaker Joe is now on the other side of the fence," Nograles said, referring to his predecessor, Pangasinan Representative Jose de Venecia Jr., who has become a staunch administration critic and endorsed the impeachment complaint against Arroyo.
Antonino, head of the public order and safety committee, said he joined the trip for meetings with Peruvian businessmen.
"My childhood classmate is the president of the Philippine-Peru Business Council and I will be having meetings with businessmen there. I am an economist, so I am interested n learning the scope of the world financial crisis and its impact on our country," he said in a text message.
After two public hearings and an executive session, Antonino's committee on Thursday temporarily suspended hearings on the Moscow fund mess while awaiting the documents it asked the Philippine National Police officials to submit.
The committee on justice will resume impeachment hearings on November 24 to determine if the complaint is sufficient in substance. Public hearings on charter change are also scheduled next week.
At the plenary, debates on the controversial Reproductive Health bill will also resume.
The APEC Leaders' Meeting will be held on November 22-23 while the Ministerial Meeting will be on November 19-20.
The APEC CEO Summit will be held on November 20-23 and the Apec Business Advisory Council was on November 17-20.
Arroyo is leaving for Peru Friday afternoon and is expected to return November 27.
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