/ COUNTING HEADS IN IMPEACHMENT
MANILA, DECEMBER
15, 2011 (MALAYA)
BY WENDELL VIGILIA - Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (photo) became
the first casualty of what is shaping up to be an administration crackdown on
members of the majority coalition at the House of Representatives who did not
sign the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Mandanas yesterday said the majority bloc has decided to strip him of his
chairmanship of the committee on ways and means which tackles measures on
taxation.
Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab got his post.
"I was informed by the Speaker (of the House leadership's decision), saying
this is what the administration wants," he said.
The decision to sack Mandanas and replace him with Ungab was formalized by
the House leadership late yesterday.
Other majority coalition members might be in danger of losing key positions
for not signing the complaint.
Among them are deputy speakers Jesus "Crispin" Remulla of Cavite and Pablo
Garcia of Cebu; assistant majority leader Roman Romulo of Pasig; Rodolfo Biazon
(Muntinlupa), chair of the committee on national defense; Sergio Apostol
(Leyte), chair of the committee on financial intermediaries; Rolando Andaya
(Camarines Sur), vice chair of the appropriations panel; and Rodante Marcoleta
(Alagad party-list) and Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, who are members of
the Commission on Appointments.
Also in danger are Salvador Escudero III of Sorogon, chair of the committee
on basic education; Ramon Durano of Cebu, chair, economic affairs; Francisco
Matugas of Surigao del Norte, chair, natural resources; Alfredo Maranon III of
Negros Occidental, chair, health; Sigfrido Tinga of Taguig, chair, information
and communications; Emil Ong of Northern Samar, chair, labor; Ronald Cosalan of
Benguet, chair, public works and highways; and Agusan del Norte Rep. Angelica
Amante-Matba, chair of the committee on women and gender equality.
Biazon is an original LP member together with son Rufino, now head of the
Bureau of Customs.
Apostol was a Lakas member who joined the LP. Remulla is a member of Sen.
Manuel Villar's Nacionalista Party and Garcia is from the National Unity Party
which is also composed mostly of former members of Lakas and Kampi.
Mandanas said he did not sign the complaint because he found it
"unacceptable" but would not say if he was ready to leave the Liberal Party.
Mandanas, who has been criticized by Malacañang for going against some of
administration policies, said he knew he had it coming.
He said he was aware the administration might have been offended by his calls
to start releasing the P500-billion internal revenue allotment (IRA) of local
government units, of which P406 billion was impounded by the Arroyo government.
Another possible reason for his ouster is his committee's investigation into
the Bureau of Internal Revenue's memorandum requiring taxpayers to disclose
additional sources of income, he said.
Majority leader Neptali Gonzales II denied Mandanas was fired for not joining
the impeachment move. But he said the LP has long been planning to fire Mandanas
who has been pushing his IRA advocacy before the President, the House members
and even the media even if it is against the party policy.
"It is his fortune that this (impeachment) happened now so he can claim that
this (firing) was something related to the impeachment. But this decision was
reached by the party a long, long time ago. This happened because his position
on the IRA has been inconsistent with the party," Gonzales told reporters later
in the day.
Counting heads in impeachment
ROMBLON Rep. Jesus Eleandro Madrona, a member of the NP who was among the 188
lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato
Corona, said the majority bloc believes Corona has the support of four senators.
Corona needs eight votes for acquittal. Prosecutors need 16 votes, or
two-thirds of the 23-man Senate.
Madrona said that during strategic planning sessions held on the Corona
impeachment, the majority bloc identified Senators Joker Arroyo, Ferdinand
Marcos Jr., Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ramon Revilla Jr. as among those they
believe would support Corona.
The NP led by Sen. Manuel Villar did not take a party stand and his son, Las
Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, did not join the move.
Madrona said the four "solid Corona" senators are expected to face four
"solid anti-Corona" senators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto,
and Teofisto Guingona III.
The House completed the election of the 11-man prosecution team for the
impeachment trial.
They are justice panel chair Niel Tupas, deputy speakers Lorenzo Tañada and
Raul Daza, Miro Quimbo, Rodolfo Fariñas, Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Reynaldo Umali,
Neri Colmenares, Arlene Bag-ao, Giorgidi Aggabao, Sherwin Tugna, and Joseph
Emilio Abaya.
Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, whose father Sen. Edgardo Angara will be one of the
judges in the proceedings, will help Tugna as a substitute if the need arises.–
Wendell Vigilia
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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