Lozano said he sent copies of the complaints to several congressmen for their endorsement. Among them are Reps. Imee Marcos (KBL, Ilocos Norte); Vincent Crisologo (NP, Quezon City); Salacnib Baterina (Lakas, Ilocos Sur); Crispin Beltran (Anakpawis), and Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna).

Know for filing impeachment cases against President Arroyo, Lozano revealed he filed the Comelec impeachment complaints before the secretary general of the House of Representatives.

Aside from Abalos, also in the impeachment complaints were Comelec Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason Jr., who were implicated in the alleged anomalous poll automation deal.

"They are guilty of betrayal of public trust. They should also return the R1 billion that government lost as a result of the highly scandalous contract," said Lozano.

He admitted that there is a chance the complaint will be rejected by the Lower House unless he is able to convince a member of the chamber to endorse it.

"I expect a congressman to endorse it. I don’t think that will be a problem because the Supreme Court has already spoken on the issue," Lozano said.

The House minority is reportedly contemplating on filing its own complaint as many of its members have aired suspicions over Lozano’s motive in pursuing the impeachment of the three poll officials.

"Sure they can file their own complaint but like last year’s incident, they might adopt my complaint again," Lozano said.

He revealed that aside from the impeachment case, he might pursue the garnishment of properties and bank accounts of the three Comelec officials for them to repay the government funds lost in the automation contract.

Meanwhile, Abalos and other top election officials linked to the voided contract for the automation of the 2004 elections said yesterday that the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has no jurisdiction over the case.

Lawyer Gabriel Villareal and other counsel of the respondents made the claims separately at the first public hearing on the case conducted by the six-man panel of graft investigators presided over by the Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro.

Not a single Comelec official, complainant, or any one of the other public and private respondents in the case appeared at the hearing as all of them were represented only by their lawyers.

Villareal submitted his formal manifestation and observation on the Ombudsman’s June 28, 2006 resolution declaring and singling out Borra as liable for impeachment in connection with the P1.3-billion computerization project.

Casimiro instructed the other lawyers of the respondents to also submit similar manifestations and observations so that the panel could issue its decision before it resumes deliberation on Thursday.

Citing various decisions of the Supreme Court, Villareal said the Ombudsman has no mandate under the Constitution to file criminal charges against officials who may be removed from office through impeachment.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said the manifestation will not affect the panel’s deliberations, adding that the public hearing is merely aimed at laying the groundwork for a speedy investigation and resolution of the case.