Casiño dismayed by Palace signal to let Ombudsman serve until 2012

One of the party-list lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Thursday expressed dismay over a Malacañang official’s remark that the former can stay until 2012. “That is unfortunate," Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said, adding, “We always thought that President (Benigno) Aquino III was serious in his statement that (ex-President) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be held accountable and prosecuted and one of the first steps to it is the removal of Gutierrez." Casiño said the statement of Eduardo de Mesa, Aquino’s chief legal counsel, could mean that Malacañang is already backtracking from its promise. (See: Aquino counsel: Ombudsman Gutierrez can stay until 2012) “(That kind of) signal from Malacañang spells the death of the impeachment complaints. That can already signal their allies here na tantanan na at ayaw ng Malacañang (to give up the effort since Malacañang doesn’t wish it)," he added. He further said, “Alam nyo naman dito sa (You know how it is here in) Congress, nothing happens without Malacanang's go-signal, especially something that big." Many critics of Macapagal-Arroyo want the Ombudsman to file charges and effectively prosecute her before the Sandiganbayan or constitutional anti-graft court. However, they see Gutierrez as a stumbling-block because she is widely perceived to be an ally of the Arroyo family. Casiño earlier endorsed the second of two impeachment complaints, which was filed by various militant organizations. (See: Another impeachment complaint filed vs Ombudsman Gutierrez) No effect on impeachment? In a news forum in Quezon City, however, Representatives Juan Edgardo Angara and Emil Ong, who both belong to the majority coalition, said De Mesa’s statement will have no effect on the impeachment proceedings. "It has no impact, no bearing on the impeachment because the Ombudsman term expires in 2012 so I guess the impeachment will then proceed in the usual procedure," Angara said. "And as a member of the majority coalition, we have not received anything from Malacañang on which way to vote and on what to do with the case. Congress will take care of this," he said. In a press statement, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who was with a group that also filed an impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman, asked Malacañang to clarify its position on Gutierrez’s term of office. She said De Mesa’s statement is irresponsible and reckless as it contradicts President Aquino’s previous announcements. “I hope this is just a slip-up on their part and is not in any way part of their official policy on how they will deal with the Ombudsman," she said, adding the palace legal counsel’s statement might be misread as a sign that the government is wavering on its avowed effort to prosecute Arroyo and handle Gutierrez accordingly. “This must be clarified immediately. They are giving the impression that they are now okay with Gutierrez. Unless they want to send mixed signals to the public, it is best they clarify this right away and correct the error," Hontiveros said.—JV, GMANews.TV