8 December 2008 - On 13 October, a group headed by former Speaker Jose De Venecia's son, Joey De Venecia, together with Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Black and White Convenor Leah Navarro, Atty. Harry Roque, and Editha Burgos (mother of missing activist student Jonas Burgos), among others, filed the fourth impeachment complaint against President Gloria Arroyo.

The group alleged that the President committed the following impeachable offenses:

I. Betrayal of public trust

A. through her involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal
B. by entering into an agreement which is grossly disadvantageous to the country's interest regarding the Mt. Diwalwal's gold reserves
C. by tampering with the results of the 2004 elections

II. Culpable violation of the Constitution

A. by entering into the Northrail project
B. through the crimes of extra judicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, massacre, illegal arrest, and other violations of civil and political rights

III. Acts amounting to bribery

A. through her involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal
B. by authorizing the distribution of bribe money to members of Congress

IV. Acts of graft and corruption

A. by approving the Northrail project
B. by profiting from the fertilizer scam
C. through her involvement in the "Hello Garci" scandal
D. through the "swine scam" involving the Quedancor

The House Justice Committee found the complaint sufficient in form. However, voting, 42-8, it was eventually ruled to be lacking in substance.

The Constitution provides 1/3 vote of the total membership of the House to overturn the Committee Report and allow its transmittal to the Senate. On 2 December, the house, by a vote of 183-21 and 3 absentions, dismissed the impeachment complaint.

Four times in a row since 2005, the House majority mustered the numbers to quash the impeachment.

View/download the vote record on the impeachment (PDF).

The Fertilizer Scam

The Senate Committees on Agriculture and Food, and Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) recently completed a series of public hearings on a fertilizer fund scam and concluded that agricultural funds intended for farmers were diverted by Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante for the 2004 electoral campaign of President Gloria Arroyo.

Former solicitor general Francisco Chavez earlier filed plunder cases in May and June 2004 against President Arroyo, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Budget Secretary Emila Boncodin, Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, and Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, among others, for alleged misuse of agricultural funds.