A former key ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday joined the opposition bandwagon calling for the president's impeachment as he affixed his signature to the complaint while in the United States. Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. went to the Philippine consulate in San Francisco and signed the impeachment complaint at 6 a.m. yesterday Manila time, consulate officials said. “If I am true to my call for moral revolution, I must sustain this impeachment complaint, in order to cleanse the government and Philippine society,” De Venecia said. Although saying that “I have no anger against President Arroyo,” De Venecia said he wanted to ensure that the impeachment complaint is heard at the House of Representatives before the opening of Congress on Nov. 10. He said he is endorsing the complaint for the Filipino people and not about his family or his son Jose “Joey” De Venecia III who is the primary complainant in the latest impeachment case against Arroyo. De Venecia said he is confident that the impeachment complaint will succeed this time because it contains strong charges against Arroyo including the controversial multi-million-dollar ZTE broadband network and railway deals with China, the multi-million-peso fertilizer scam and the “Hello, Garci” vote fraud scandal. De Venecia earlier said he would support the impeachment complaint against Arroyo, a former close political ally. The rift between Arroyo and De Venecia began after the latter's son linked Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, to the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network scandal. De Venecia later accused Malacanang of moving for his removal as House speaker early this year. Last Oct. 13, the younger De Venecia, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, and other civil society leaders officially filed the 97-page impeachment complaint. Malacanang immediately belittled De Venecia's endorsement of the impeachment complaint against Arroyo. “It's no big deal for us,” said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza. He said it is up to the House of the Representatives to decide on the case. - __
