Solon denies receiving bribe over ‘bogus’ 2007 impeach rap

MANILA, Philippines - Deputy Speaker and Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar on Tuesday denied any involvement in the alleged bribery of congressmen in October last year over the impeachment case filed by lawyer Roberto Rafael Pulido. Before the House Justice committee suspended its hearings on the impeachment complaint filed by Jose de Venecia III and other civil society leaders, del Mar clarified that he did not receive any money for transmitting Pulido's impeachment complaint to the Justice committee last year. Del Mar transmitted the complaint endorsed by Laguna Rep. Edgar San Luis after then House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr inhibited himself from having anything to do with the complaint and asked Del Mar to handle it. "Considering that the complainant, Atty Roberto Raphael Pulido, has also accused me of unethical practice before the House Ethics committee and the Ombudsman, I believe I should have no participation whatsoever in the disposal of this complaint...I have therefore decided to voluntarily discharge my functions today, October 11 2007, only for the purpose of properly disposing of the impeachment complaint. I should like you to discharge my functions today, October 11, 2007, only for the purpose of properly disposing of the impeachment complaint," De Venecia said in his letter to del Mar last year. Del Mar made the clarification after De Venecia revealed during the House Justice committee hearing on Monday that he was offered P500,000 to endorse the Pulido complaint but that he refused because he deemed it a "sham and bogus" complaint. De Venecia said his refusal cost him the Speakership. "Last year, for refusing to endorse a sham and bogus impeachment complaint against the President and for supporting my son's call for truth and justice, I was removed as a Speaker of the House of Representatives and I was removed as President of the Lakas-NUCD party," De Venecia said. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV