Palace: PNoy need not rally allies to support Merci impeachment

(Updated 6:15 p.m.) Lawmakers need no prodding from President Benigno Aquino III in supporting the impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Wednesday. “Siguro hindi na kinakailangan dahil talagang matunog yung pulso ng taumbayan pagdating dito at sinabi na rin naman po natin na talagang we support the impeachment," Valte said in an interview with reporters. (I don’t think the lawmakers need to be prodded by the President because the people are behind them on this issue, and as we said before we support the impeachment complaints against the Ombudsman.) She said members of the House of Representatives are aware of the sentiments of the public regarding the issue, “which is why I think this has come to where it is now." The House committee on justice has started deliberating on the two impeachment complaints against Gutierrez, who is accused of shielding the Arroyo family from prosecution, as of posting time. Gutierrez, who was appointed during the term of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has repeatedly denied the allegations against her.
Asked if President Aquino had the chance to discuss with his allies the impeachment proceedings, Valte said although he is always in communication with the members of the Liberal Party, she is not aware if they have talked about the impeachment. Nevertheless, the President’s allies are aware of his take on the issue based on the statements issued by Malacañang supporting the impeachment proceedings, Valte said. 'Momentous occasion' In a press statement Tuesday, Malacañang welcomed the decision of the House justice committee to push through with the impeachment proceedings against Gutierrez. “Accountability evades no one, and thus we welcome the decision of the House committee on justice," Valte said in the statement. Valte described the development as “a momentous occasion for Philippine governance" as it was the first time an Ombudsman faces impeachment proceedings for betrayal of public trust due to alleged inaction on the cases stated in the complaint. “The constitutional process is already unfolding and as the head of the constitutionally independent office, the Ombudsman must weigh her options in light of these historic proceedings," Valte said. Asked if there is someone President Aquino is eyeing to replace Gutierrez in case she gets impeached, Valte said there is none yet. “Wala pa naman pong nagiging ganung pag-uusap ngayon dahil of course as of the moment siya po yung Ombudsman (That hasn’t been discussed yet because as of the moment Merceditas Gutierrez is still the Ombudsman)," she said. However, Valte said that "it will greatly help in the anti-corruption efforts kung magkakaroon ng Ombudsman talaga na tanod, yung magiging tanod bayan talaga." Valte said the current Ombudsman frustrated a lot of people with its alleged inaction or delayed action, including the case of former police officer Rolando Mendoza. The delay in the review of his case supposedly prompted Mendoza to hijack a busload of tourists from Hong Kong, killing eight of them before government forces were able to neutralize him. "Antagal nakabinbin ng motion for reconsideration tapos merong period na ine-specify sa batas kung gaano katagal iresolba, hindi nagawa iyon. Siguro yun yung naging mitsa nung kung anong nangyari nung August 23," she said. "It was really also frustration on the part (of Mendoza) and from what we understand, he’s not [the] only person who has experienced this particular delay in the Ombudsman," she added. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News