#title:On the Impeachment Complaint<br>
@@@@@<h1>On the Impeachment Complaint</h1><!--Cordillera Peoples' Democratic Front, by Simon "Ka Filiw" Naogsan, Spokesperson, CPDF </em><br><br>
The Arroyo regime is happily gloating after the recent defeat of the impeachment complaint at the Lower House. The craven manner in which many members of the House of Representatives mangled and sidetracked a quest for truth truly makes them lower, in matters of courage and honor.<br>
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The connivance of Arroyo and her supporters in Congress in killing the impeachment complaint exposes their depraved obsession to cling to power and to continue reaping the filthy profit it provides. To ensure victory, Arroyo again resorted to its standard operating procedure. Bribery. A flood of funds disguised as projects was released to dissuade lower members of the House from supporting to the impeachment move. Through legal technicalities and doublespeak, the ruling syndicate succeeded in obfuscating the issue. More than ever before, in an issue of paramount importance, craven politicians displayed their true colors. The masses wonder, "Magkano kaya ang dahilan?"<br>
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It is also disheartening to see that all Cordillera congressmen decided to vote against the impeachment complaint. Mrs. Arroyo went to a great extent to inveigle the congressmen of the Cordillera by personally visiting some of them in their hometown a few days before the 26 September plenary.<br>
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The shameless use of patronage politics and money to quash the impeachment complaint could very well be the Arroyo regime's "second envelope." This will be the catalyst that would propel the popular movement to oust Gloria from Malacaņang. Contrary to the lies peddled by Malacaņang, the people are not tired of People Power. They are tired of the betrayal of People Power by successive regimes that mercilessly drove them deeper into the mire of poverty. And who can believe the incredible lie that the impeachment case is the cause of the economic crisis? The politico-economic crisis we now experience has been festering long before the Hello Garci case erupted. The impeachment case is, in fact, just one of the many consequences of this crisis.<br>
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The Arroyo regime has exacerbated the crisis by relentlessly enforcing policies of liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. And by engaging in such criminal and corrupt practices such as jueteng and election fraud. The defeat of the impeachment case in last Monday's plenary is not a victory for Malacaņang. It is another fiber woven into the rope from which shall hang this despotic regime. # $$$$$