President Gloria Arroyo faces an even much bigger problem than the corruption scandal besetting her government as the two chambers of Congress began moves to look into allegations that she committed treason by virtually surrendering parts of the Philippine territory to China in exchange for billions of dollars in loans. In an unprecedented move, both the Senate and the House of Representatives said they are set to begin separate investigation on the agreement allegedly entered by the Arroyo government and China for joint oil explorations in parts of the resource-rich Spratly islands and surrounding Philippine territorial waters. Lawmakers from both chambers both accused the Arroyo government of selling out “Philippine interests and sovereignty.” Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said Arroyo can be impeached for such a high crime, adding that the matter is not only of national interest but could also put in jeopardy the Philippines' diplomatic relations with other governments in Asia that also have claims to the Spratly islands. Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a resolution seeking an investigation on the issue in the Senate while opposition Reps. Teddy Casi–o and Satur Ocampo filed a similar bill before the House. Ominous for Arroyo is the fact that the House bill is being supported by even her close allies led by no less than the president of her own political party, Rep. Luis Vilafuerte. Villafuerte filed a motion seeking to investigate the role of former House Speaker Jose De Venecia on the alleged agreement with China. Last week, reports surfaced that the Philippines virtually gave up parts of its natural resources to China when it signed an agreement allowing Beijing to gather seismic data off Palawan province within Philippine territorial waters. The reports also linked Venecia, saying he and Arroyo might have committed treason or betrayal of the public's trust of the highest order as the agreement with China was supposedly signed in exchange for loans purported to be attended by bribery and corruption. De Venecia's alleged involvement in the signing of the agreement appears to be the motive why even Arroyo's allies in the House are spearheading the move to investigate the issue. Arroyo's House allies earlier forced De Venecia's ouster from the Speakership after De Venecia and Arroyo broke off their years-old alliance due to the still raging broadband corruption scandal. Barry Wain of the Far Eastern Economic Review said in an article in the magazine's January-February 2008 issue that the agreement was deemed a “sellout on the part of the Philippines” by several experts in the region. __
