Reuters/Manila
Lawmakers allied with Philippine President Benigno Aquino yesterday threw out three impeachment motions in the House of Representatives, the first political challenge to the popular leader in four years.
The impeachment motions stemmed from Aquino’s controversial economic stimulus fund, which the Supreme Court declared partly illegal in July, and a new military agreement with the US.
Voting 54-4, the justice panel in the lower house of Congress declared the complaints “insufficient in substance”, dismissing the three motions only after two hearings.
“This is a terrible day for the Filipino people,” said Neri Colmenares, a left-wing member of Congress. “We only had two meetings, are you rushing these proceedings?”
It will now go before a plenary session of the 290-member legislature, where Aquino’s opponents number only 40 in total. To overturn the justice panel decision, 97 votes are needed.
Aquino’s predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo survived five impeachment motions in as many years because her allies also dominated Congress.
“These impeachment complaints filed against President Aquino is nothing more than a harassment case and a clear case of a political demolition,” said Congressman Jerry Trenas, a staunch ally of the president.
The Philippine Congress dismissed three impeachment complaints against President Benigno Aquino for lack of evidence.
