Solon regrets backing Arroyo as tempers fly in wiretap probe
First posted 06:17pm (Mla time) June 22, 2005
By Maila Ager
INQ7.net
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EMOTIONS ran high on the second day of the investigation by the House of Representatives on the wiretapping scandal involving President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
as a pro-administration legislator openly declared that
she regretted campaigning, defending, and protecting the President.“I am sorry for what I did,” Cebu Representative Clavel Martinez said when House Deputy Speaker for Visayas Raul del Mar reminded her that they both defended Arroyo's votes during the May 2004 election.
Del Mar's remarks was prompted by Martinez's insistence that the investigating body should play the tapes allegedly showing that cheating also occurred in Cebu, which gave Arroyo over a million votes and ensured her victory.
“
I campaigned for the President but now, looking back, I wonder if I did right,” Martinez said.Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto Paras, an opposition member, sided with Martinez and moved that the tapes be played in the hearing.
But pro-administration Representative Benasing Macarambon countered with a call for a quorum, irking Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo Plaza, an opposition member.
“
What kind of Congress is this? Is this the Congress of the majority?” Plaza said.
It was at this point that Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla, one of the chairmen of the five investigating committees, suspended the hearing.
After conferring with members of the committees, Macarambong withdrew his motion.