By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “answerable†for the “stinking†$329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp., according to a report by a Senate investigating panel led by the blue ribbon committee.
In the report that was made public Tuesday at a press conference by blue ribbon chair Sen. Richard Gordon, the joint committee sought the impeachment of Ms Arroyo and the prosecution by the Ombudsman of 11 others, including her husband Jose Miguel “Mike†Arroyo, for allegedly conspiring to defraud the government in exchange for “kickbacks†from the since scrapped contract.
Asked what impeachable offense Ms Arroyo had committed, Gordon said she had violated her oath of office which was a “culpable violation of the Constitution.â€
He cited Section 5 of Article 7, which provides that the President must “preserve and defend the Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man.â€
She should have “control†of all executive departments.
“Her acts in this case reveal that her performance of presidential duty has been wanting. Unfortunately, you can see the litany of errors of the President. Apparently, she wasn’t able to crack the whip on her people,†said the senator.
Gordon said Congress could still impeach Ms Arroyo to strip her of immunity from suit as President.
“She has to explain and answer at the proper time,†he said, pointing out that Ms Arroyo could be held accountable even “after her term.â€
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