2nd impeach raps vs Ombudsman Gutierrez to be filed Thursday

A second impeachment complaint is set to be filed on Thursday morning against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, together with resigned General Danilo Lim and parents of deceased Navy Ensign Philip Pestaño, will lead the submission of the new complaint before the House Secretary General. Hontiveros and Lim both ran for senator under the banner of Liberal Party but lost. In a text message to GMANews.TV, Hontiveros said the grounds of the complaint will be betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. She said it would include new cases including that of the late Pestaño's, whose death — considered as suicide — was disputed. Before his death, Pestaño was alleged to have documented evidence regarding corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Gutierrez had earlier expressed readiness to face the complaint to be filed against her as she dared her critics to produce evidence. [See: Ombudsman Gutierrez dares critics to produce evidence] In March last year, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, LP chairman emeritus, led the filing of the complaint against Gutierrez. [See: Impeach raps filed against Ombudsman Gutierrez] Gutierrez was accused then with betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution in the handling of several controversies involving the First Family and Arroyo’s allies. These issues include a corruption case against former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr., allegations of collusion between three Filipino construction firms over public works contracts, and the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, among others. In September, the House justice committee, composed mostly of Arroyo allies, dismissed the first impeachment complaint and in November, the House, as a whole, voted in favor of the committee report. [See: House junks impeach bid vs Ombudsman Gutierrez] - Amita O. Legaspi/RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV