The Pangasinan Star ONLINE

PRO-IMPEACHMENT congressmen were urged to respect the rule of the majority that prevailed in the voting at the House of Representatives when the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was decided upon. .

Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez chided the fired up emotions of opposition congressmen when the complaint for impeachment was defeated by a vote of 58 “yes”, 51 “no” and 6 “abstention” in the longest session ever at the House of Representatives.

“The House of Congress must be the venue for the rule of law. As lawmakers they can not afford to project themselves as law-breakers. They should be gracious in accepting these realities,” he said.

Fernandez however saluted Rep. Peter Alan Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) for best articulating his own view of what is right, according to his perception.

“Judging from what we heard and seen, it was the rule of law that prevailed. It is the standard of law which is by practice referred to jurisprudence made by the Supreme Court that was followed,” Fernandez said.

He said that in this standard, the outcome of the voting could be viewed as wrong in the opinion of some congressmen. Since the majority rules in a democracy however, the votes of a larger number of congressmen must be respected.

Fernandez said anyone who has a clear conscience and good faith in what he believes in, is right in what he feels is right, adding that as a human being, one must realize that freedom cannot be absolute.