MANILA, Philippines -- Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.?s testimony against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over her alleged role in the national broadband network (NBN) controversy was the ?strongest link in the chain of evidence? that could lead to her impeachment, Senator Aquilino Pimentel said on Monday.

Regardless of De Venecia?s motives, Pimentel said his testimony could be taken as basis for the President?s conviction.

?I suppose this is the strongest link in the chain of evidence that if treated passionately and without partisan considerations could really lead to the impeachment of the President,? he said over the phone.

?Because this is the first hand account of the involvement of President Arroyo as testified by someone, who was there,? he pointed out.

The senator was referring to De Venecia?s claim of his supposed meeting in China last year with the President and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, ZTE officials, and resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. to discuss the aborted NBN project.

Pimentel explained that circumstantial evidence has many links in its chain leading to the establishment of culpability of the person being charged.

?To my mind, this is the strongest link so far which puts the President in a very difficult situation,? he said.

?Sa [In] circumstantial evidence, directly wala kang makikita [you don?t see anything] but if you tie up the various links in the chain of circumstantial evidence, then you build up a strong case sometimes stronger than the eye witness,? he further explained.

Despite this, Pimentel still doubts if the impeachment bid against the President could reach the Senate considering the composition of the House of Representatives, which is dominated by administration allies.

If the impeach move would not succeed, Pimentel said, the President could still be held liable in court after her term ends in 2010.

At present, Arroyo is protected by the so-called presidential immunity from suit.

Besides, testifying on the supposed irregularities committed by Arroyo was the only thing that De Venecia could do in order to earn his niche in the Philippine history.

?This might be the redeeming moment of JDV [De Venecia?s initial]. The people have been frustrated by his widely evasive actions in refusing to confront the President,? he said.

?But now he has been enlightened hopefully by the Holy Spirit. I think we can move forward on the basis of his revelation,? he added.