Solon inhibits from impeach bid vs Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - An administration lawmaker voluntarily inhibited himself from participating in the impeachment proceedings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, House justice committee chair Matias Defensor Jr. disclosed Thursday. At a weekly forum in Quezon City, Defensor said Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of political party Kampi has inhibited himself from the proceedings because there are three pending cases against Barzaga before the Ombudsman. A copy of Barzaga's March 3 letter to the Justice committee obtained by reporters showed that the pending cases were filed against Barzaga when he was still mayor of Dasmariñas, Cavite. The first case filed against Barzaga and several other municipal officials was on Nov. 8, 2006; the second was on Nov. 13, 2006; and the third was on Jan. 8, 2007. "While the aforesaid cases pending before the Office of the Ombudsman have been filed while I was the municipal mayor of Dasmariñas and it is my position that said three cases are purely harassment suits where the complainants are motivated by personal and not meritorious reasons, nonetheless, I feel that it would be for the best interest of the House of Representatives as well as to the parties of the impeachment complaint and the public that I voluntarily inhibit myself," Barzaga said. Defensor said during the press conference that his committee will likely start its hearings on the complaint when Congress resumes session in April. The Speaker of the House has 10 session days to transmit the complaint to the Rules committee upon his receipt of the complaint. The Rules committee then has three session days to refer it to the Justice committee, which is given 60 session days to act on the complaint. The committee will decide whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance before lawmakers vote on it in plenary. At least one-third of the House's 238 members need to vote in favor of the complaint before it can be transmitted to the Senate. While he has not yet read the 33-page complaint against Gutierrez, Defensor said the personalities behind the move to remove her from office appear to be formidable. "From the way it looks mukhang medyo mabibigat yung nag-file ng impeachment complaint [The complainants appear to be formidable]," said Defensor, adding that the issue was "a very good case to look into." "If I can speculate I think this can be a very serious impeachment complaint," Defensor said. The complaint against Gutierrez was filed on Monday by 31 complainants including former Senate President Jovito Salonga, former University of the Philippines College of Law dean Raul Pangalangan, UP Law professor Florin Hilbay, Bantay Katarungan executive director Emilio Capulong Jr., former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan III, Bishop Antonio Tobias, former senator Leticia Shahani; former peace process adviser Teresita Deles, former Civil Service Commission chairperson Karina David, former Social Welfare secretary Corazon Soliman, and Black and White Movement spokeswoman Leah Navarro, as well as newspaper columnist Randolph “Randy" David. The complainants charged Gutierrez with betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution because of her alleged inaction on, and mishandling of, several high-profile cases. Gutierrez, however, has maintained that she has not neglected her duty and that she acts on cases based on its merits. Maintaining that she will not resign nor take a leave of absence from her post because of the charges against her, Gutierrez said she was also considering filing falsification and perjury charges against those people behind her ouster case. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV