Women supporters of GMA ask House to throw out impeachment

Seventeen female supporters of President Arroyo asked the House of Representatives yesterday to throw out all eight impeachment complaints filed against her.

The intervenors, led by Evelyn Kilayko, filed their five-page "motion to dismiss" with the office of House secretary-general Roberto Nazareno, saying they lodged the pleading as "taxpayers, registered voters and as concerned Filipino citizens."

Kilayko was joined by Parañaque resident Suzette Pido, who gained prominence in May 2004 during the canvassing of votes after she slipped a "shut up" note to then Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, who was pushing for the candidacy of the late Fernando Poe Jr.

The pro-Arroyo intervenors were assisted by lawyers Rachel Minon, Joseph Jerry Bañares Jr. and Sesinio Belen Jr. They said they wanted a president who is "free from harassment and baseless assaults" and a "House that is focused on its primary mandate to legislate."

Among the grounds they cited were the "weakness" of the "serial impeachment" filing wherein no less than impeachment legal team head Rep. Ronaldo Zamora admitted they were leaving their case to luck, amid the obvious odds or its slim chances.

"Such unreasonable posture of the opposition is causing economic and political instability in our country. We believe that the progress and stability of our nation should not be allowed to be affected by people who are merely trying their luck (or tsamba)," they declared.

House Majority Leader Francis Escudero, the leader of the opposition bloc, pointed out, however, that such a motion to dismiss — at this early stage — is a prohibited pleading.

"No such pleading is allowed. They have no personality nor standing to file such a motion," Escudero said.

House Deputy Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said "people participation" in the impeachment issue is welcome. "Impeachment is a remedy against abusive officials. But how can they file a motion to dismiss when they have yet to hear the evidence?" he asked.

All the impeachment complaints filed since June 26 until July 26 "are mere waste of time and resources of the government," the Arroyo supporters said.

"Why prejudice the economy of our country? Why plunge this country into too much politics or political turmoil?" they asked.

They reasoned out lawmakers have more "productive endeavors" to do than waste time on political activities "generated by the opposition for their self-interest or their own political agenda."

They likewise branded as "unfounded" allegations that the President exercised "dictatorial powers and "incredible" the claim that she was also responsible for the murder of almost 700 activists and journalists.

So is the use of the invalid portions of Proclamation 1017 and Executive Order 464, which are not grounds for impeachment, they said.

"There have been many issuances by past presidents that were declared unconstitutional and yet they were never made a basis for impeachment."

As to the alleged rigging of the May 2004 presidential polls, the intervenors stressed that this had long been a "dead issue" that "can no longer be resurrected," as this had already been raised in the opposition’s impeachment complaint in July 2005.

"The remedy is an election protest and said remedy was already prescribed in July 2004. This means that no court or agency or tribunal may still hear and try any case assailing the legitimacy of the incumbent President," they argued.