Show proof, says Ermita on payoff claims
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:21:00 12/03/2008
Filed Under: Impeachment, Politics, Graft & Corruption, Congress
MANILA, Philippines -- Show us the evidence, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told those claiming that administration congressmen were allegedly paid to dismiss the recent impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Ermita issued the challenge on Wednesday, just a few hours after the House of Representatives, voting 183-21, junked the fourth impeachment case against Arroyo.
“Anyone can make those charges. It’s one to charge, it’s another to prove any case,” he told reporters in the Senate.
“So kung inaakala nilang meron [If they think there is], why don’t just anybody come out in the open, justify, put evidence, get witnesses…You know, the easiest thing to do is to make charges,” he said.
Ermita said it was also unfair for congressmen to say that they could be bought just to kill the impeachment bid against Arroyo.
“Ganun talaga [That’s the way ot is], if you’re talking of the opposition siyempre [of course] they’d think and do things that they can throw at the administration. Basta ang sa akin [As far as I am concerned], we live by the rule of law, we go by legal procedure…” he pointed out.
While Malacañang welcomed the dismissal of the complaint, Ermita said it was expected since the House was dominated by administration allies.
He said the Palace would also respect any move to bring the issue before the court.
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