JDV asked to explain non-expulsion from House

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on ethics decided yesterday to ask Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. to explain why he should not be expelled from the House as proposed by a colleague.

The committee, chaired by Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, reached the decision after voting to acquire jurisdiction over the complaint of Agusan del Norte Rep. Edelmiro Amante against the former speaker.

The complaint stemmed from De Venecia’s accusation that Malacañang distributed cash gifts to more than 100 House members after President Arroyo met with them on Oct. 11, 2007.

The three-page impeachment petition filed by lawyer Roel Pulido against Mrs. Arroyo was discussed during the Palace meeting.

De Venecia, who made the accusation after the President’s allies led by her two congressmen-sons ousted him as Speaker, said Mrs. Arroyo effectively bribed his House colleagues into dismissing the impeachment complaint.

To prove that cash gifts were distributed, the former speaker cited the admissions made by some colleagues, including Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., that they received gift bags containing P500,000 in cash.

He also cited similar statements made by Governors Ed Panlilio of Pampanga and Joselito Mendoza of Bulacan who admitted receiving P500,000 after meeting with the President in the afternoon of Oct. 11.

During the Palace meeting, De Venecia said Mrs. Arroyo tried to force him to endorse the Pulido complaint to the committee on justice so she would be given a one-year impeachment protection.

Such protection begins once an impeachment case is referred to the justice committee.

The former speaker said he turned down the President’s request, saying he could not in conscience endorse a “sham, bogus impeachment complaint.”