A party-list representative said on Wednsday that they are not discounting the possibility of filing an impeachment case against President Arroyo although it might be futile considering that majority of congressmen in the House of Representatives will be busy preparing for next year's presidential and local elections.

In a press conference, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teddy Casino said that if reports are indeed true that Mrs. Arroyo and her party had an extravagant dinner at an upscale restaurant in New York City, there is a strong basis for them to file an impeachment case against her.

"If that is true, that's already an impeachable offense batay sa batas natin. One, betrayal of public trust and of course that is a violation of the Constitution wherein a provision there states that public officials should live a simple life. Iyung dinner na iyun eh pwede isama sa impeachable offense," Casino said during the Fernandina Forum held yesterday at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

"However, hindi pa namin napag-uusapan sa minority ang bagay na ito. Isa pa, baka makahadlang ang nalalapit ng 2010 election dahil majority of the congressmen eh tatakbo so dun na ang tutok nila," he added.

Casino explained that if Arroyo won't be impeached, filing a case against her before the Office of Ombudsman after June 30, 2010 would also be an option. "We could file a case against her (Mrs. Arroyo) before the Office of Ombudman after her term ends on June 30, 2010. Pwede natin isama ang unexplained wealth dito kung mapapatunayan na may na-violate siya," he said.

Casino also said that Congress could also hold budget hearings to also determine how public officials spend money whenever they travel abroad to make sure that they don't violate Philippine laws. "That could also be an option," he said.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzales earlier said the President did not violate any law when she accepted an invitation of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to dine at Le Cirque restaurant last August 2, even as he lashed back at critics for “making a mountain out of a molehill.”

“There is no case here,” the former justice secretary said, referring to plans by the opposition to pursue an impeachment complaint against the President over the controversial $20,000 dinner at the Manhattan restaurant.

However, Casino said that Romualdez should also be held accountable for this and he owes the people some explanation.

"Eventually, kailangan mag explain si Congressman Romualdez kung san galing ang pera na ginastos sa pagkain. Bigyan natin siya ng pagkakataon to explain," he said.

As this developed, Casino also said that Mrs. Arroyo should be open with regards to her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), to douse fears that she use her office to gain wealth.

"Ang SALN naman eh public document na open sa lahat. Kahit ag Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) pwede itong hilingin para malaman kung tugma sa figures ang binabayaran na tax ng isang public official. A few years back, may proposal na isa-publiko ito pero hindi ito nag-prosper kas baka maging vulnerable ang lawmakers at government officials sa blackmail at kidnapping. Walang specific agency na tumututok diyan para ma-open accounts nila. The basic
is kailangan diyan magkaroon ng full disclosure pag fini file ang SALN. Dapat makaroon ng better system for disclosure ng SALN at dapat isapubliko ito," the lawmaker explained.

Party-list representative and Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms chairman Etta Rosales said there is no need to have a special body to investigate Mrs. Arroyo's SALN.

"Investigation na naman. I don't think kailangan pa ng special body on this dahil may laws naman tayo. Nung time ni Senate President Jovito Salonga napasa ang Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts from private companies, gaining wealth illegally etc. Ang kailangan lang natin enforcement ng laws. Ang Congress may oversight function committee on good government na dapat tiyakin nila na mamo-monitor ang behavior ng elected public officials at government officials. Yan lang dapat enforcement ng laws. Marami tayong magandang batas na napasa right after ng People Power na kailangan lang mapatupad," she said.