ALL hopes for a "Lazarus act" harbored by congressmen seeking to resurrect the impeachment complaint against Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were completely dashed when the House of Representatives, which resumed its regular session today, adjourned shortly after it convened for a lack of quorum.
With only 104 out of 236 House members responding to the roll call sought by majority leader Rep. Prospero Nograles, the presiding Speaker, Rep. Emilio Espinosa Jr., ordered the adjournment, denying any recourse by the pro-impeachment lawmakers of filing a motion for reconsideration of the plenary decision that, with a vote of 158-51, junked all the impeachment complaints against Arroyo.
The pro-impeachment congressmen had hoped to exhaust one final legal option available to them only today at the Lower House — which the Supreme Court even pointed to when it dismissed late last week two petitions filed in connection with the Arroyo impeachment case. The petition filed by lawyer Ernesto Francisco was deemed premature as the pro-impeachment congressment could still file a maotion for reconsdieration. The other petition filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano was dismissed for violating the rules of civil procedure as he already filed a motion for extension when he has yet to file a petiton.
Raising the validity of the declaration of a lack of quorum, the opposition’s pleas, reminiscent of the justice committee hearings, were again conveniently ignored by the presiding Speaker.
See photo of all the empty seats here.
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