Arroyo can be compelled to attend House probe on poll fraud
July 21, 2011
FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who now represents the second district of Pampanga, may be compelled – and even cited for contempt – once the probe concerning the election fraud in 2004 and 2007 begins at the House of Representatives.
“Can any one member of Congress be subject to contempt if he fails [to] attend; if the committee decided in its wisdom na i-co-contempt, bakit hindi?…Kung pwede sa ordinaryong tao, bakit hindi sa member of Congress?” Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II said in a press conference Tuesday.
Gonzales clarified that individuals called to attend a House investigation may invoke his or her right against self-incrimination if a case related to the investigation has already been filed in the court.
Arroyo is already facing plunder raps concerning the use of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds. She is also facing charges for the alleged misuse of P530 million funds belonging to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), and for allegedly using P1.6 billion in fertilizer funds to pursue her presidential bid in 2004.
Not one individual or group, however, has initiated to file charges against the former President for the alleged election fraud committed in 2004 and 2007.
In a two-page document, former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor Zaldy Ampatuan revealed that the Arroyo family in 2007 sought the help of his father to secure votes for then senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri. Zubiri’s votes in Maguindanao boosted his candidacy to secure the last senatorial spot.
For his part, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is not keen to conduct an investigation, saying matters involving poll fraud are better left with the Department of Justice and the Commission on Elections.
“At this stage of the game, I hate to conduct an investigation on the issue best conducted by other people. We would discourage it…we should move on,” Belmonte told reporters.
Majority Leader Gonzales, meanwhile, said that regardless of the personal positions of House leaders, the appropriate committee – in this case, the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms – would still need to take up the resolution seeking an investigation on the 2004 and 2007 election fraud.
“Insofar as the House of Representatives is concerned, while we may disagree with one another, we may have to defer the subject matter of the resolution to the appropriate committee,” he explained, adding it is up to the committee to proceed with the investigation or not.
Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casino have filed a resolution seeking the probe “to ensure, among others, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s victory as president.”
Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. has also filed a House resolution to probe the lawmakers involved in the PCSO fund mess – an issue that is still being tackled in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Arroyo’s legal counsel, lawyer Raul Lambino, earlier stated that the former President will not appear in congressional hearings investigating alleged anomalies committed by the previous administration. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/19/arroyo-can-be-compelled-attend-house-probe-poll-fraud-167793
Best Restaurant in Clark Pampanga unveils regional dinner menu featuring the classic cuisine of Italy, all designed to pair nicely with fine vintage wines from Italy’s wine regions such as Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto and Sicily, one more reasons for food and wine lovers to travel to Angeles City, Clark Philippines to satisfy their thirst for a wonderful meal at a fine dining restaurant, the best place to eat in Pampanga.
The new regional set menus rolled out recently by the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga stirred up renewed interest among visitors from Manila for real fine dining treat in Clark Pampanga as wine lovers from Subic, Tarlac, Manila, Angeles City, Clark Pampanga Philippines wine and dine at Yats Restaurant to enjoy good food paired with fine vintage wines from the wine cellars of this highly recommended resto bar in Pampanga
Visitors come from Manila, Angeles City, Pampanga, Subic and Clark Philippines to enjoy a sumptuous seafood dinner at Yats Restaurant. Many guests order excellent white wine from the award-winning restaurant wine list of this famous fine dining restaurant in Clark. Favorite wine orders for guests in this restaurant include Chablis, Chassagne-Montrachet, Sancerre, Chardonnay of Chile’s Casa Lapastolle, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and South Africa, Rose from Anjou, Pinot Noir from USA and Burgundy France and the all-time favorite, Meursault. A wide range of sparkling wine and Champagne is available also in this restaurant in Pampanga which is famous for its selection of vintage wines. Popular choices of guests in this restaurant include Paul Bara Champagne, Crement de Bourgogne, MUMM Cuvee Napa Sparkling wine, Prosecco and Cava.
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(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
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How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Pampanga? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
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