Anti-communist solon scored for unethical statements

A staunch anti-communist party-list lawmaker is in hot water for making unfounded statements that has put the House of Representatives in a bad light.

According to Reps. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Roger Espina of Biliran, Rene Relampagos of Bohol, and Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, the Anad party-list Rep. Pastor Alcover should be investigated by the House Ethics panel for making false accusations that has put the Lower House in a bad light.

“The ethics committee should investigate him for making false accusations and irresponsible statements that put Congress as an institution and my colleagues in a bad light,” Evardone said yesterday.

Alcover has accused President Aquino of bribing lawmakers in exchange for their signatures for the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Alcover said that President Aquino gave P1-million each to the lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona.

Alcover also said that President Aquino gave a victory party to the 188 lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City while millions of Filipinos are in poverty.

“That is totally untrue and ridiculous,” Relampagos said.

Evardone said that House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte did not commit nor promise anything to those who will sign the impeachment complaint.

“I read the complaint before I signed because I had an electronic copy. We signed it on our own volition and based on our belief on Aquino’s campaign against corruption,” Evardone said.

Belmonte said that no one was forced to sign the complaint and that those who refused had all the right to do so.

Belmonte said the complaint had been explained fully well with an audiovisual presentation to the lawmakers during a caucus before the complaint was passed around for their signature.

The complaint has been transmitted to the Senate and that the Senate impeachment court has been formed to try the complaint against the Chief Justice.

Corona has been accused of partiality and subservience in cases involving former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; for failing to disclose his statement of assets liabilities and networth; for flip-flopping in the issuance of court decisions, particularly in the cases involving Philippine airlines and its employees; for issuing a status quo ante order against the House in the impeachment case against then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez; for Gerry-mandering in the case involving 16-newly created cities; for allegedly exculpating a member of the high court who is being investigated by the House; for issuing a temporary restraining order against the Department of Justice in order to give Mrs. Arroyo a chance to escape prosecution; and for refusing to account for the judiciary development fund. –Gerry Baldo, Daily Tribune