US embassy cable - 05MANILA4140

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PMBS, EAP/IET, INR/EAP, INR/B, DS 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PINR, ASEC, RP 
SUBJECT: HOUSE QUASHES IMPEACHMENT EFFORT 
 
REF: A. OPS CENTER - MANILA 09/06/2005 TELCON 
 
     B. MANILA 4040 
     C. MANILA 4019 
     D. MANILA 3994 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol/C Joseph L. Novak for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  The Philippine House of Representatives has 
quashed the Opposition's impeachment effort against President 
Arroyo.  In a session concluding late September 6, the vote 
in the House to uphold the Justice Committee's findings 
dismissing the complaints against Arroyo was 158 for and 51 
against with four abstentions.  The Opposition, conceding 
defeat in the House, has announced that it now plans to focus 
on holding street demonstrations against the government.  As 
of late September 6, an Opposition rally involving several 
thousand people is taking place near Congress in Quezon City, 
metro Manila.  No violence has been reported.  The Opposition 
is very frustrated that its impeachment effort is over.  Most 
neutral observers believe, however, that the public at large 
is not similarly engaged  and probably will not turn out for 
rallies in large numbers.  End Summary. 
 
---------------------------------- 
End of Road for Impeachment Effort 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Meeting in plenary session, the House of 
Representatives has quashed the Opposition's impeachment 
effort.  In a session concluding late September 6, the vote 
in the House to uphold the Justice Committee's findings 
dismissing the complaints against Arroyo was 158 for and 51 
against with four abstentions.  (Note:  Last week, the 
Justice Committee dismissed two complaints -- including the 
Opposition's comprehensive complaint -- on technical grounds. 
 Another complaint was dismissed because it used evidence 
that was ruled out of order -- see refs b-d.  End Note.)  The 
voting, which was televised, moved at a glacial pace as each 
member went to the well of the House, made a statement and 
then voted.  By only winding up with 51 votes, the Opposition 
did not achieve the 79 or more (one-third of the House 
membership) endorsements needed to send the matter to the 
Senate for an impeachment trial. 
 
3.  (U) The debate on the Justice Committee findings began on 
September 5.  The texture of the debate basically mirrored 
the discussions that took place in the Justice Committee in 
recent weeks.  Pro-Arroyo lawmakers, who are dominant in the 
House, used their speeches to defend the President and to 
lash out at the Opposition for what they characterized as 
"reckless charges."  Opposition members accused the 
pro-Arroyo Majority of "stifling discussion" and "trying to 
protect a corrupt president from justice."  The Opposition 
also claimed that Malacanang Palace was bribing lawmakers to 
ensure that they did not break ranks and support the 
impeachment effort.  Assistants to President Arroyo have 
vigorously denied the charges and asked that the Opposition 
respect the House's decision to end the impeachment debate. 
 
---------------- 
Opposition Rally 
---------------- 
 
4.  (U) The Opposition has conceded defeat in its impeachment 
effort.  Representative Francis Escudero, the House Minority 
Leader, stated late September 5 that "We may have lost by not 
having the 79 signatures, but this does not mean that Gloria 
Macapagal Arroyo has won.  The search for truth is not yet 
over."  Escudero promised that anti-Arroyo groups would take 
their complaints against Arroyo to the streets via a new 
round of demonstrations and rallies.  Opposition leaders 
announced recently that they were forming a new group called 
"Bukluran Para sa Katotohanan" (Tagalog for "Coalition for 
the Truth"), which would help spearhead these rallies. 
Former president Corazon Aquino, Susan Roces (a well-known 
former actress and the widow of deceased presidential 
candidate Fernando Poe Jr.) and other well-known Opposition 
figures have announced their support for the group. 
 
5.  (SBU) As of late September 6, an Opposition rally is 
taking place in Quezon City in the metro Manila area.  So 
far, no violence has been reported as the estimated 3-4,000 
or so participants rally near Congress.  Most of the crowd 
appears to have links with pro-left groups, according to Pol 
FSN who is monitoring the scene.  Students and elements of 
the mainstream Opposition are also present.  Supporters of 
Brother Eddie Valenzuela's "Jesus is Lord" group are in 
evidence (Brother Eddie, a former presidential candidate, is 
another pro-Opposition figure).  Corazon Aquino, Susan Roces 
and Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson are leading the rally.  In 
addition to Brother Eddie, a number of clerics from other 
faiths are also participating. 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
6.  (C) After the Justice Committee's several votes last 
week, the September 5-6 events in the House have been 
expected and were rather anti-climactic.  At this point, 
Arroyo has the political edge over her opponents, but a sour 
mood prevails.  While it basically knew that a negative 
result in the full House vote was forthcoming, there is no 
doubt that the Opposition is very frustrated that its 
impeachment effort is over.  Opposition leaders have made 
clear that the political turbulence is far from finished and 
have promised to continue their campaign against Arroyo. 
Despite the Opposition's best efforts, however, most neutral 
observers believe that the public at large is not engaged and 
probably will not turn out for rallies in large numbers. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov 
 
JOHNSON