Arroyo to retain her seat, perks in Congress

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Inquirer file photo

Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will retain her seat and all its perks even if she cannot go to Batasan because of her arrest. But a militant lawmaker has vowed to push to have the former president replaced because her district deserves a “functioning” representative in Congress.

“So far, I don’t see any immediate changes,” said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., two days after Arroyo was placed under hospital arrest on charges of sabotaging the results of the 2007 elections filed by the Department of Justice and Commission on Elections last Friday with the Pasay City regional trial court.

“She continues to be a member of the House, with the same rights and privileges as the rest. The only difference is she cannot attend the session,” said House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales.

With Arroyo facing the same fate as her predecessor, former President Joseph Estrada, who spent six years under arrest in a Tanay rest house while the Sandiganbayan plodded on with his plunder trial, calls for her removal from the House roster have mounted. (Estrada was found guilty by the court but he was immediately pardoned by then President Arroyo.)

“Even assuming to be true, the electoral sabotage cannot be used to unseat her because it occurred before she became a congresswoman,” said Gonzales.

He pointed out that former Zamboanga del Norte Representative Romeo Jalosjos was re-elected twice even if he was convicted in court for raping an 11-year old girl in 1996.

“Since his case is up for automatic review, only the final judgment of conviction allowed the House during the 12th Congress to delete his name from the roll,” said Gonzales.

But Akbayan Representative Walden Bello is adamant that Arroyo be ejected from her seat with the uncertainty of her return to Batasan due to her arrest.

“I am personally for immediately removing her from the rolls. However, this will be difficult without a conviction. This is why I am in favor of her immediate suspension owing to her indefinite absence and inability to perform what she was elected for, followed by a special election for her replacement. The people of the second district of Pampanga deserve to be represented by a functioning representative,” said Bello.

Bello created a furor in August last year when he made a privilege speech where he wished Arroyo would be made to pay for her sins so “she can be transported from this august chamber to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa where she belongs.” Bello was hit by an ethics complaint from Arroyo’s colleagues in the House.

Since Arroyo could not be expelled without a final conviction, Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said the House should instead move to redistribute her committee memberships to other lawmakers with her anticipated prolonged absence due to her arrest.

Arroyo sits as a minority representative in nine committees – appropriations, economic affairs, foreign affairs, globalization, higher and technical education, national defense and security, veterans affairs and welfare, ways and means, and women and gender equality.

Originally posted: 4:14 pm | Sunday, November 20th, 2011