Alcover to file impeach rap against Aquino

CEBU, Philippines - Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover, Jr. is set to file an impeachment complaint against President Benigno Simeon Aquino III when the House of Representatives will resume its session on November 14.

Speaking before the Tapok-Tapok sa Media Forum at NS Royale Pension yesterday, Alcover said that the formal complaint is now being drafted against the President for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Alcover alleged that on August 5, 2011, Aquino traveled to Tokyo, Japan and had a one-on-one meeting with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Murad Ebrahim.

During said meeting, Aquino allegedly expressed his support for the creation of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) and made a commitment to deliver the P5 million allegedly promised by the previous administration to fast-track the establishment of the BLMI.

President Aquino also allegedly instructed the government peace panel to hand over the check worth P5 million to MILF.

During their talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 22 to 23, 2011, Marvic Leonen, head of the government peace panel, allegedly gave the check to the MILF as instructed by the President.

Alcover said that these facts indeed transpired and are admitted by no less than Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Leonen, and also confirmed by Chairman Murad in their respective press and media interviews.

Alcover argued that the act of Aquino of giving P5 million to the MILF constitutes a Culpable Violation of the Constitution, specifically Section 29(1) Article VI.

The section provides that “no money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law.”

“President Aquino therefore violated the Constitution and the fact that his action was made only in compliance with the commitment of the previous administration is of no moment because he had everything in his power to review the said commitment considering that the intended beneficiary is a group that is fighting against the government,” Alcover said.

The group, Alcover has stressed, lacks absolute control over its armed members who have “terrorized and butchered civilians and military personnel” in areas where they operate.

Alcover said that even if the money given were taken from the discretionary funds of the Office of the President, still, it is at the “height of indiscretion” on the part of President Aquino to give people’s money to the MILF, which threatens to jeopardize the territorial integrity of the country, undermines the duly constituted authorities and worse, is “publicly known to be brutal and has desecrated the bodies of the slain soldiers wherein President Aquino is the Commander-in-Chief.”

“That by giving money to the MILF, President Aquino has done a disservice to the Filipino people with utmost irresponsibility and disloyalty and a gross manifestation of the inefficiency and lack of patriotism of his administration,” he said.

Alcover said he might not get the number in Congress to support his complaint but at least he can bring up the advocacy he is fighting for in preserving democracy. (FREEMAN)