Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The numbers game may not favor the complainants in the impeachment rap against President Benigno Aquino III within the halls of the House of Representatives, so they are keen on trying their luck in various communities.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes on Monday said the battle for the complaint to prosper is in the communities and not in the lower Congress, long dominated by presidential allies.
“Ang aming plano, iikot kami sa iba-ibang komunidad, kakausapin ang mga mamamayan (Our plan is to go around the communities and talk to the people),” Reyes, one of the petitioners, said.
“Ang tagumpay ng impeachment ay hindi sa bilang ng mga kongresista. Nakasalalay ito sa taumbayan (The victory of the impeachment is not in the numbers of the congressmen. It is in the people),” he added.
Members of the majority bloc, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, have long said the complaint will not prosper in the chamber.
Reyes thus urged congressmen to veer away from the influence of Malacañang and consider the impeachment complaint.
“Ang hamon sa mambabatas: Pagkakataon na para ituwid ang nagawang pang-aagaw ng kapangyarihan. Huwag naman sila laging paggamit sa Malacañang (Our challenge to lawmakers is: It is time to correct the President’s usurping of power. Congress should not always be Malacañang’s lapdog),” he added.
More impeachment complaints will be filed by groups to be endorsed by other militant representatives, such as Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio.
According to the complaint, Aquino should be impeached for “violating the Constitution by usurping Congress’ power of the purse, betraying the public trust by exacerbating the corrupt pork barrel system, committing tyrannical abuse of his powers, violating his oath of office and perpetrating multiple counts of technical malversation and corruption of public officials.”
They said Aquino should be impeached for his Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), a savings-impounding mechanism, parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Funds from DAP were also said to be given as incentives to senators who voted to convict former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The complaint was endorsed by Bayan Muna representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate, and Anakpawis Representative Fernando Hicap.
There are 28 petitioners in the complaint. They are: Reyes; Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) President Ferdinand Gaite; Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) President Dante Jimenez; Citizens Crime Watch President Atty. Jose Malvar Villegas; Retired archbishop Oscar Cruz; United Church of Christ in the Philippines Bishop Emergencio Padillo; Iglesia Filipina Independentia Bishop Joselito Cruz.
Former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza; University of the Philippines professor Judy Taguiwalo; musician Monet Silvestre; Church People’s Alliance Against Pork Barrel convenor Father Benjamin Alforque; Marie Sol Villalon of the Promotion for Church People’s Response; Whistleblowers Association of the Philippines president Sandra Cam; Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Rafael Mariano; Kilusang Mayo Uno chair Elmer Labog; Migrante International chair Gerry Martinez; UP professor Danilo Arao; RX Pork convenor Robert Mendoza
Scrap Pork Network leaders Mae Paner (also known as Juana Change), Inday Varona, Noemi Lardizabal-Dado, and Deng Silorio; Alerto Mamimili convenor Lolita Donato; Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) chair Gloria Arellano; Maria Aurora Santiago; Joan Mae Salvador of Gabriela; Anakbayan chair Vencer Crisostomo; and Concepcion Empeno, mother of missing UP activist Karen Empeño.
RELATED STORIES