'Erap did not control pork release to stop impeachment'

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada did not use his control over the release of the congressional pork barrel to stop his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 2000, Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

“I was a witness to his refusal to withhold the funds of those trying to impeach him because I was then head of the Presidential Management Staff in Malacañang,” Remulla said in a television interview.

Remulla, who is a deputy speaker, said Estrada could have nipped in the bud the impeachment effort in the House by withholding the funds of those involved.

“He told us he could not do it because it would be punishing the congressmen’s constituents and that he has nothing to hide. I think that was a mistake on his part,” he said.

He said former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo used her control over congressional funds to stop the yearly impeachment campaigns launched by her critics.

“They got zero from GMA. I know because my brother was in the opposition,” he added, referring to former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla.

The deputy speaker said it is not right for Malacañang to withhold or delay the release of funds for congressional districts.

“But we have to live with it because this is political reality,” he said.

He said if a congressman’s allocation is withheld or its release is delayed, he has to regard it as “part of the territory.”

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II debunked Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco’s assertion that the filing of the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona was tied to the release of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).  – With Paolo Romero