Ethics panel ‘buys time,’ resets Cayetano’s German account probe

09/20/2006

Members of the House committee on ethics that yesterday was expected to hear a complaint filed against opposition congressman Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) by President Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, her son Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and her brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo (Bacolod City) have been accused of “buying time” by the opposition camp for postponing the hearing at short notice.

Minority congressmen Roilo Golez (Parañaque City) and Joel Villanueva (party-list Cibac) said they doubt the reason given for the postponement of the hearing to Oct. 3, which was unpreparedness on the part of the panel’s members.

Golez, during an interview after the hearing, said he suspects that the members “(may have seen) weaknesses in the complaint filed against Rep. Cayetano and that is why they are buying time.”

He added he is not discounting the possibility that Malacañang is cooking up a major gameplan to ensure that the expulsion case against the Taguig-Pateros congressman would proceed without any hassle.

Members of the opposition were in full force for yesterday’s initial hearing.

Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Abayon moved for the postponement of the hearing when he, himself, admitted that he is not ready to hear the complaint since copies of the complaint were only distributed a few minutes before the committee convened.

The minority lawmakers had said they were ready despite having been given the copies at the last minute.

It was believed that the complainants are planning to amend the complaint against Cayetano since the original complaint is facing a legal dilemma that might jeopardize the complaint pending before the committee.

Under the rules, the ethics committee cannot act on a complaint filed against any member of the House of Representatives when there is already is a case filed before any prosecutor’s office or lower court.

In the case of the Arroyos, the First Gentleman had already filed a P32-million libel case against Cayetano before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

Even administration congressmen, including the ethics committee chairman Roberto Cajes, earlier said the committee cannot act on such complaint if there already is a case filed in any criminal court involving the same issue.

Mr. Arroyo filed the complaint against Cayetano in connection with the congressman’s expose on the alleged multimillion-dollar bank account in Germany being maintained by the First Family.

He has denied the allegation and filed the complaint.

The complainants accused Cayetano of violation of Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code and engaging in improper conduct.

These charges, once proved, would warrant the congressman’s expulsion from the House.

The complainants earler even challenged Cayetano to save face and the integrity of the entire House by resigning from his post. Cayetano was not around for the hearing.

He had said he has no intention at all to attend the hearing since his presence might be perceived as an attempt to influence congressmen that would hear the complaint against him.

Cajes himself said Cayetano’s presence would surely be needed in due time or when the committee calls the opposition congressman to defend himself.