Impeach complaint vs Desierto endorsed

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. decided yesterday to send the impeachment complaint filed by a lawyer against Ombudsman Aniano Desierto to the justice committee for hearing.

De Venecia made the move hours before flying to the United States to join the official party of President Arroyo.

He told reporters that he was cutting the 10-session-day period given him under the Constitution to act on the impeachment complaint.

"It is my constitutional duty to transmit it to the justice committee," he said.

However, he said the case will first be routed through the rules committee which will then include it in the House calendar of business before it is finally sent to the committee on justice chaired by Rep. Marcelino Libanan of Western Samar.

Asked to comment on the complaint, De Venecia said he did not want to prejudge it.

"It is for the committee on justice to determine whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance, and to conduct hearings," he said.

Responding to another question, the Speaker said he did not think that the case would jeopardize Desierto’s prosecution of the cases against ousted President Joseph Estrada.

"He has been vigorously pursuing these cases and I don’t think the complaint would adversely affect his job," he said.

The complaint against the Ombudsman was filed by lawyer Ernesto Francisco and initially endorsed by Rep. Oscar Moreno (Lakas, Misamis Oriental), who was a member of the House panel that prosecuted Estrada in his Senate impeachment trial.

On Thursday, Satur Ocampo, Crispin Beltran and Liza Maza, who represent the leftist group Bayan Muna in the House, signed a separate resolution endorsing the case.

Francisco has accused Desierto of alleged bribery, betrayal of public trust and violation of the Constitution, charges that the Ombudsman has denied.

According to the complainant, the Ombudsman received from his client, Bank of Southeast Asia (now DBS Philippines), video equipment worth P300,000 and P500,000 in cash from bank owner Luke Roxas.

The supposed bribery took place in September 1997. Roxas has denied giving money to Desierto.