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By Efren L. Danao  Manny Pacquaio “The dismissal was right on schedule. The congressmen are in a hurry to catch the flight to Las Vegas [Nevada] for the fight of Pacquiao,” he added. The Pacquiao-de la Hoya “Dream Match” will take place on December 6 (December 7 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Many congressmen, including House Speaker Prospero Nograles, have been attending Pacquiao fights in the United States. The tickets for the fight were sold out a few hours after they were put on sale, with Pacquiao reserving $550,000 worth of tickets for his friends, including some governors and congressmen. Thus, the only way some congressmen could personally watch the fight in Las Vegas is through Pacquiao.
Roxas said he had no expectations other than the killing of the impeachment complaint because congressmen want to fly immediately to America. “It is clear that the Malacañang train was working at the House because congressmen did not even hear the pieces of evidence in support of the impeachment complaint,” he added. Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said he also was not surprised by the result because proponents of the impeachment of President Arroyo lacked the required number of one-third of the House members and the allies of the President constitute an overwhelming majority in the House. “But I was surprised at the speed with which the impeachment [complaint] was dismissed. I thought it would take two more weeks before the . . . [complaint] is killed,” he added. Villar said he was worried that the House would move with the same haste in approving resolutions to amend the Constitution. There are at least two such resolutions there. ‘House of cards’ Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that he also had expected the dismissal of the impeachment complaint all along. “The impeachment decision was expected from the House of cards held by the Queen in the Palace. She has all the aces up her snickers and cash in brown paper bags ready for all takers,” he added. Pimentel was referring to Mrs. Arroyo and to claims that congressmen and local government officials were given brown paper bags containing P500,000 each after attending a meeting in Malacañang last year. Earlier, he said he also did not expect the impeachment complaint to reach the Senate because of the configuration of the House. Sen. Francis Escudero expressed dismay that the House Committee on Justice gave more emphasis to procedures than on results. “It is saddening that, just like before, the House voted without hearing first the evidence,” he said, apparently referring to three failed attempts to unseat Mrs. Arroyo
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