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MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 3) The panel at the House of Representatives tasked to hold the impeachment proceedings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has determined that the two complaints filed against her were “sufficient.”
Voting 42-12, the justice committee ruled in favour of the second complaint filed by by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. against Gutierrez over her alleged failure to go after those behind the P728-million fertilizer fund scam on Aug. 3, 2010.
The vote by the House panel came after it also ruled, 41-12, in favour of the first complaint filed by Former Akbayan partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros, freed rebel officer Danilo Lim and the parents of the late Ensign Phillip Pestaño on July 22, 2010.
They accused her of betraying public trust and violating the Constitution for the “dismal and unconscionably low” performance of her office in convicting erring government officials, and her purported failure to correctly decide on the cases filed in connection with the Arroyo administration’s controversial deal with China’s ZTE Corp. on a national broadband network.
Following the vote, the justice committee set the hearings Wednesday.
In the hearing aired live on Radyo Inquirer and television on Tuesday, members of the justice committee voted 37-8 to proceed with the impeachment hearings against Gutierrez.
Congressman Niel Tupas, committee chairman, said Gutierrez, who was given time to respond to the charges against her, has not submitted her response, prompting the panel to enter a general denial for her as provided under the rules of impeachment.
The House proceedings became possible after the Supreme Court, voting 7-5, threw out Gutierrez’s petition seeking to declare unconstitutional the impeachment proceedings against her.
But the high court said that Gutierrez still had 15 days to file an appeal, and that it would be “more prudent” for the lawmakers to wait for the high court’s final decision before starting the impeachment proceedings.
In 2009, another group composed of former Senator Jovito Salonga and 30 others filed an impeachment case against Gutierrez for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. This was quickly dismissed.
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Voting 42-12, the justice committee ruled in favour of the second complaint filed by by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. against Gutierrez over her alleged failure to go after those behind the P728-million fertilizer fund scam on Aug. 3, 2010.
The vote by the House panel came after it also ruled, 41-12, in favour of the first complaint filed by Former Akbayan partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros, freed rebel officer Danilo Lim and the parents of the late Ensign Phillip Pestaño on July 22, 2010.
They accused her of betraying public trust and violating the Constitution for the “dismal and unconscionably low” performance of her office in convicting erring government officials, and her purported failure to correctly decide on the cases filed in connection with the Arroyo administration’s controversial deal with China’s ZTE Corp. on a national broadband network.
Following the vote, the justice committee set the hearings Wednesday.
In the hearing aired live on Radyo Inquirer and television on Tuesday, members of the justice committee voted 37-8 to proceed with the impeachment hearings against Gutierrez.
Congressman Niel Tupas, committee chairman, said Gutierrez, who was given time to respond to the charges against her, has not submitted her response, prompting the panel to enter a general denial for her as provided under the rules of impeachment.
The House proceedings became possible after the Supreme Court, voting 7-5, threw out Gutierrez’s petition seeking to declare unconstitutional the impeachment proceedings against her.
But the high court said that Gutierrez still had 15 days to file an appeal, and that it would be “more prudent” for the lawmakers to wait for the high court’s final decision before starting the impeachment proceedings.
In 2009, another group composed of former Senator Jovito Salonga and 30 others filed an impeachment case against Gutierrez for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. This was quickly dismissed.
link: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]