House panel to vote on impeach raps vs Ombudsman Sept 2

The House committee on justice will vote next week on the sufficiency in substance of the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, the panel's chairman said Wednesday.

Quezon Rep. Matias Defensor Jr. said the voting would be on September 2, after lawmakers against the impeachment complaint shall have presented their arguments in defense of Gutierrez.

"Many of them have signified their intentions to speak against the impeachment," he said in an interview with reporters after the resumption of hearings on the complaint.

According to Defensor, among those who want to take part in the anti-impeachment panel are Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier, Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan, and Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr.

The committee declared the 33-page complaint sufficient in form last May 5. If the committee finds the complaint sufficient in substance, then Gutierrez will be told to submit her response to the complaint within the next 10 session days, Defensor said. Both pro- and anti-impeachment sides may then present evidence and witnesses before the committee.

But if the committee junks the complaint, it will be brought to the House plenary, where a favorable one-third vote from the House's 268 members is needed for the complaint to be transmitted to the Senate.

The pro-impeachment panel, composed of the complaint's endorsers, presented its arguments during the hearing earlier in the day.

"Ombudsman Gutierrez, who also served as the Arroyo government’s justice undersecretary and chief presidential legal counsel, has squandered her crucial responsibility of curbing corruption and other anomalies. She has failed to fulfill her plenary power 'to stop, prevent and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties,'" said Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.

"Her power to prosecute, suspend, dismiss or otherwise penalize erring officials is left unused in going after the scandals attributed to the First Family and their associates," he added.

According to him, Gutierrez's alleged failure to hold public officials accountable "spells danger on our democratic rights and freedoms to put to task those who betray our trust."

The panel was given one-and-a-half hours to present its arguments regarding the cases cited in the impeachment complaint.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros spoke on the Mega Pacific graft and corruption case; Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño on the alleged World Bank-financed road projects collusion; Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam; Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza on the extortion case against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez; Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello on the Euro-Generals scam; Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III on the dismissal and suspension orders against Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas; and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III on the dismissal and suspension orders against Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia.

The summation was presented by Cibac Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares.

The lead complainant, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, was allowed to speak at the start of the hearing. The 89-year-old former senator took the chance to tell the committee to have "the courage to change the things [they] can" as he pointed out that an Ombudsman must be a protector of the public, and not of public officials.

Gutierrez has repeatedly denied accusations that she sat on and mishandled the cases cited in the complaint. She has also lashed back at the complainants by saying the Liberal Party, wherein Salonga is chairman emeritus, was getting back at her because of the graft charges her office filed against party official Nereus Acosta, a former representative of Bukidnon. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV