Ex-Cabinet execs' presence forced House suspension--solons
Maila Ager
INQ7.net
THE SURPRISE appearance by some resigned Cabinet members could have been the reason why the committee at the House of Representatives in charge of the impeachment complaints against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decided to hold a closed-door meeting, two lawmakers said on Wednesday.
Those who showed up at the hearing were former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman, former presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Quintos Deles, and Imelda Nicolas, former head of the national anti-poverty alleviation.
"When they saw the Hyatt 10, they got rattled," impeachment lead prosecutor Ronaldo Zamora told reporters," referring to the 10 Cabinet secretaries who announced their resignation at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila to denounce Arroyo's alleged involvement in poll fraud.
"This is just the start and yet they are already threatened," Zamora said.
Zamora said the closed-door meeting was obviously meant to get the public out, especially the members of the "Hyatt 10."
"They just wanted to watch. This is a public hearing," he said.
"What can these people from the 'Hyatt 10' do to mess up the arrangements?" Minority Senior Deputy Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said.
But Ilocos Sur Representative Salacnib Baterina, vice-chairman of the justice committee, denied his colleagues' allegations.
"Why should we get rattled? What are they? Supermen ?" Baterina said in a telephone interview.
"We did not even see them and nobody mentioned about them here in the executive session," he said.
In an interview before the hearing, Soliman said they showed up to assure the public that their stand had not changed even after leaving the administration.
"We are here to lend support to those in search for truth," Soliman said.
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