Chief Justice Reynato Puno drew more supporters from the Senate yesterday even as House Speaker Prospero Nograles branded the impeachment move as ?pure speculation and devoid of factual basis.?

?Whoever is behind this may unwittingly be engaged in a dangerous political intrigue,? Nograles said.

?Foremost, there is no complaint. Not even a single member of the House of Representatives is reported to be inclined to endorse such an impeachment complaint if, indeed, there is one.?

Nograles said the last thing the country needs now is political and constitutional instability as it could worsen the people?s suffering at this time the world is facing a global economic slowdown.

Nograles also took exception to reports attributing the move against Puno to President Arroyo and the administration party Kapisanan ng Malayang Pilipino.

?Worse, if the news angle links the impeachment to cha-cha?that really stretches the fertile imagination too far and too much,? Nograles said.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, described the impeachment threat against Puno as ?shameless maneuverings? by people identified with the administration.

?These people are bereft of shame. The Supreme Court is the bulwark of justice, that is the court of last resort. There is no room for innuendos and baseless charges,? Gordon told newsmen in a press briefing.

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said they have heard of a move to impeach Puno but said they did not know where it came from.

Marquez said the allegation against Puno is baseless since the high court en banc has decided not to promulgate the ruling because it is still being deliberated by the tribunal.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said members of Congress will not be persuaded to support an impeachment case against Puno just because one of their former collegues, ex-Negros Rep. Jacinto Paras, has raised a ruckus over the alleged misconduct of the chief justice.

Paras is the husband of Olivia who lost to Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong in the fight for the congressional seat in the First District of Negros Oriental in the May 2007 elections. Roy Pelovello, Fel V. Maragay