House majority ‘pressured’ to sign impeach plaint

MANILA — Navotas City Representative Tobias Tiangco told the Senate impeachment court Monday that there was pressure from the House leadership for members of the majority to endorse the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
He said he was taken aback when House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. supposedly told the majority that Corona’s impeachment was “non-debatable”.
“We will impeach the Chief Justice today. Corona is a protégé of GMA (Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), he will do nothing but protect GMA. He will get in the way of the President’s plans,” Tiangco said, quoting Belmonte.
He added there were no supporting documents presented to the majority when the impeachment complaint was presented at a December 12 caucus.
He said there had only been bullet points and a “narrative”.
“He was trying to convince us that there was a probable cause, but to be convinced, I needed to see documents,” he told the impeachment court.
Tiangco said he already displeased Malacañang once, when he did not sign the impeachment complaint against former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and as a result, had the release of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or pork barrel) allocation delayed.
He said he almost signed the complaint because of the delayed PDAF after the Gutierrez impeachment and because there were enough members to impeach Corona anyway.
“Third, I don’t want to catch the ire of the most powerful man in the country,” he said.
Tiangco added that members of the House told him in confidence that they resented “being forced” to sign the complaint.
This delay in the PDAF and the pressure from the House leadership in the Corona impeachment complaint were part of a pattern and the modus operandi of the Aquino administration, said defense lawyer Dennis Manalo.
Tiangco said he felt that the complaint was an attempt to control the judiciary.
Manalo also asked Tiangco about other moves against members of the judiciary, and the lawmaker said aside from the Corona complaint, there was also a complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo, who was accused of plagiarism.
He added there were also news reports of House prosecutor Niel Tupas saying two more justices would be impeached.
But Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile noted no other justices faced impeachment. He also repeatedly asked the defense for the relevance of Tiangco’s testimony.
Enrile allowed Tiangco’s testimony, however, after Manalo said it was meant to raise doubts on the grounds and the integrity of the impeachment complaint.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Francis Pangilinan also asked about the relevance of Tiangco’s statement.
“I do not know where I can connect Congressman Tiangco’s testimony to what we will decide on eventually,” Estrada said.
Meanwhile, Enrile ruled that the validity of the impeachment complaint should have been raised before the complaint was brought to the Senate. He said the complaint was in compliance with House rules and that the Senate is only mandated with trying the impeachment complaint.
This was an affirmation of the Senate impeachment court’s decision in January to dismiss the defense’s motion for a preliminary hearing to dismiss the complaint because it was not properly verified. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/13/house-majority-pressured-sign-impeach-plaint-210903

Highly recommended resort for family reunion near Manila is Clearwater Lake Hotel Clark Pampanga

Residents of Manila and Angeles City Pampanga are looking for a safe and convenient place to celebrate special occasions or take a shot vacation in the Philippines. Many travel north to Clark to swim at Clearwater Beach Resort which also has lake and picnic grounds to unwind and relax, a very good way to spend quality time with the family and children. Fine dining Yats Restaurant offers sumptuous cozy Christmas dinner, for wine lovers, Clark Wine Center provides exciting shopping options.

Family bonding can be very enjoyable this summer vacation if travelers can go north to Clark Pampanga and hang out in famous and highly recommended beach resort near Manila Clearwater near Angeles City Philippines.

There is a casual café with a beautiful view which serves good breakfast and basic lunch and dinner. Foodies can opt to drive over to Mimosa about 3 minutes away just a bit too far to walk, to have dinner at the fine-dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar. This cozy and romantic restaurant serves French Mediterranean cuisine at prices that are surprisingly affordable. For wine lovers, this restaurant in Mimosa Clark Freeport Pampanga is a treat with its award winning 3000-line wine lists that contain not only the famous labels but also connoisseurs’ choice of fine vintage wines.

Top places to go this Christmas in Manila, travel north to Clearwater Beach Resort Clark

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com