House panel to tackle impeach raps vs Ombudsman Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the large number of Palace allies in the House of Representatives, endorsers of the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez remain hopeful that the complaint will flourish when the Justice Committee begins its deliberations on Tuesday.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, two of the complaint's seven endorsers, said they are hoping lawmakers would decide on the complaint based on its merits.

"I expect that the committee will find the complaint sufficient in form, thereby setting the stage for finding it sufficient in substance in subsequent hearings," Baraquel said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

When asked whether the complaint has a chance of being declared sufficient in substance, Hontiveros said, "Posible, kung ituring ng mga Palace allies na bipartisan House effort ito na ibalik ang Office of the Ombudsman sa dapat nitong kredibilad [Possibly, if Palace allies treat this as a bipartisan effort to regain the Office of the Ombudsman's credibility]."

Maza said she is confident that the complaint is sufficient in form and substance, but expressed concern that Malacañang may intervene and thwart efforts to take Gutierrez out of office. Gutierrez was First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo's schoolmate at the Ateneo Law School.

"As an endorser, I know that it's sufficient in form and substance. I'm afraid though that if the First Family exerts effort to kill it, it will go the way of the impeachment cases vs PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo)," Maza said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

House Justice committee chair and Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor had earlier assured that the Ombudsman would be given a fair trial when the panel begins its hearings on the case. The committee has 60 session days to finish deliberations on the impeachment complaint.

Other endorsers of the complaint include Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casino.

Earlier in the day, new Akbayan Rep. and University of the Philippines professor Walden Bello joined the six lawmakers in endorsing the complaint immediately after he took his oath of office before House Secretary-General Marilyn Barua-Yap.

“We cannot have a mediocre and patently biased Ombudsman to head an institution that is mandated to check and correct the abuses committed by the government," Bello said in a statement.

In a 33-page complaint filed last March, civil society leaders led by former Senate President Jovito Salonga accused Gutierrez of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution.

The complainants said said Gutierrez committed the violations in the handling of the Mega Pacific and corruption case against former Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr., the World Bank mess regarding the sanctioning of three Filipino construction firms over alleged collusion, the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, the extortion case against former Justice secretary Hernando Perez and the euro generals scandal, among others. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV