House to act on impeach case vs Gutierrez - SB

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. said yesterday the House of Representatives would act on the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez with prudence and within the bounds of the Constitution.

The Akbayan party-list earlier filed an impeachment complaint against Gutierrez for allegedly failing to act on the corruption and human rights violation cases filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Belmonte said the complaint was filed when the House has yet to elect its leaders.

“Actually we have 10 working days, but you know we have to be realistic that it should start only from last Monday when we were elected, before that there was no speaker to act on it and it only reached my desk so definitely we will work within the framework allowed by the Constitution,” he said.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas will be heading the justice committee that will determine whether the complaint is sufficient in substance and form before referring it to the plenary for action, Belmonte said.

Former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros filed an impeachment complaint against Gutierrez for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Hontiveros also accused Gutierrez of sitting on the 15-year-old murder case involving a Philippine Navy ensign.

The complaint, filed with former Army general Danilo Lim and Felipe Pestaño, was endorsed by Akbayan representatives Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello.    

“Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has consistently blocked remedies provided by our laws and our Constitution to prevent abuses by public officials,” he said.

“The Ombudsman is supposed to be the protector of the people, the guardian of integrity, but (what) Gutierrez did was to reduce the institution to the gatekeeper of the corrupt.”

Grounds for conviction cited by the complainants include the low conviction rate of the Office of the Ombudsman since 2008; failure to act on cases filed against the Arroyos regarding the cancelled $329-million national broadband network deal; and the decision of the Ombudsman to uphold the legality of the arrest and detention of Hontiveros at the height of the “Hello, Garci” controversy.

Former special prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio, who was administratively charged by Gutierrez, urged her to resign to avoid the embarrassment of the impeachment process.

“The best thing she could do is to resign,” he said.

“That would be her legacy and she can save whatever is left of her reputation and image.”

Hontiveros expressed optimism that the impeachment complaint against Gutierrez would prosper under the Aquino administration.