LP NOT SEEN TO CLINCH 94 HOUSE VOTES
No Merci impeach, no pork — Noy ally
By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo 03/20/2011House allies of President Aquino, with only three session days on their hand before Congress goes on Lenten break, had resorted to intimidation in their effort to secure the needed votes in the plenary set tomorrow to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez with Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya allegedly threatening House colleagues they would not be able to get their priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or more commonly known as “pork barrel” if they do not vote in favor of the impeachment complaint.
The Liberal Party (LP) apparently in a panic mode over the likelihood that they would fall short of the required 94 plenary votes to approve the impeachment complaint against Gutierrez.
A text message was reportedly circulated among members of the House supposedly by LP spokesman Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya containing an alleged warning to lawmakers, including non-LP members, that they would be deprived of their pork should they go against the Gutierrez impeachment.
The text message read: “From Cong. Abaya – Favor, kindly disseminate to all reps – LP and non-LPs. This should be made clear to all. Those who will vote no or absent/abstain on impeachment will get 0 as in zero. At least walang sisihan that there was no forewarning (At least there would be no recriminations and accusations that there was no forewarning).”.... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110320hed1.html
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