Impeach case filed vs Comelec official

An impeachment case against Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco was formally filed with the House of Representatives yesterday.

Fifteen organizations, joined by Rep. Monico Puentevella (Lakas, Bacolod City), filed the complaint. The People vs Tancangco Movement, included the National Movement for Free Elections headed by businessman Jose Concepcion Jr., the poll official’s tormentor.

The petition was endorsed by 65 congressmen.

Tancangco is being accused of betrayal of public interest, violation of the Constitution and inefficiency.

She allegedly showed bias for the multi-billion-peso voters registration and information system project, deciding to undertake it despite the lack of funds.

The complainants also alleged that the Comelec official wasted public funds by conducting precinct mapping, for which there was no appropriation in the poll body’s budget.

Tancangco, who was in Zamboanga de Norte on official business, welcomed the filing of the complaint.

"I could use the forum to answer the issues against me," she said. "I have faith in our congressmen that they will decide on the evidence," she said in a telephone interview.

Other organizations making up the movement include the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, National Secretariat for Social Action, Makati Business Club, and Kongreso ng Mamamayamg Pilipino II.

The impeachment petition will be sent to Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. before being included in the order of business of the House of Representatives and transmitted to the committee on justice.

The number of endorsers was 12 shy of the required signatures of one-third of all congressmen to send the complaint directly to the Senate for trial.

But former Deputy Speaker Raul Daza, who authored the House impeachment rules in the 8th Congress, said there is still a possibility that the complainants can get the support of at least 77 House members.

"If they muster the support of one-third, the complaint goes to the Senate for trial. But it would be difficult to convict Commissioner Tangcangco in the Senate, where two-thirds vote or 16 would be needed for a verdict of conviction," Daza said.

He said the Constitution and the impeachment rules make it easy for the House to charge an impeachable official and difficult for the Senate to convict him or her. – Jess Diaz, Sandy Araneta