House opposition outvoted in complaint vs Cayetano

The House ethics committee yesterday voted to terminate the period of initial review on misconduct charges filed by the family of President Arroyo, which seeks the expulsion of House Deputy Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Twenty-seven congressmen outvoted the seven members of the opposition bloc, who urged their House colleagues to give Cayetano a chance to defend himself against the charges.

Cayetano had earlier accused the Arroyos of maintaining secret multi-million-dollar accounts in Germany.

The ruling of the ethics panel, headed by Bohol Rep. Roberto Cajes, paves the way for the investigation proper of the complaints filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, his sons Juan Miguel and Diosdado, and brother Ignacio. Juan Miguel and Ignacio are both members of the House of Representatives, representing districts in Pampanga and Negros Occidental, respectively.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte refuted claims made by opposition congressmen that Cayetano needs more ample time to prepare for his defense, noting that it was the Taguig-Pateros congressman himself who did not make good on his promise to submit evidence in his favor.

Opposition Rep. Gilbert Remulla of Cavite took up the cudgels for his colleague, saying that never in his six years as member of the ethics committee did devote its time to just one case, such as this complaint against Cayetano. — Delon Porcalla