Merci impeachment is about 'an obstacle to judicial reforms' - Palace

The move to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is about her being “an obstacle to judicial reforms," not about former President and now Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Malacañang said Wednesday. “Let me clarify, this is not about GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo)," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters. “This is about clearing all the landmines. This is the promise of the President. Remember, when we came to office, there were plenty of landmines, he said, referring to perceived obstacles in the Aquino administration’s pursuit of its anti-graft and corruption initiatives. “There were so many corrupt acts which were not resolved," he added. The presidential spokesperson explained that Malacañang is anxious about the possibility of cases filed with the anti-graft court being “diluted" as in the case of former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. “A case (like Garcia’s) which seemed to be so strong has been so diluted that it was reduced to a plea bargain," Lacierda said. “What we want to file before the Office of the Ombudsman is a strong case that will go forward to be prosecuted successfully. We have the apprehension that a case that we will be filing before the incumbent Ombudsman will be diluted and diminished in substance," he said. Corrupt acts uncovered The Aquino administration has uncovered plenty of corrupt acts “and we are going to file the necessary cases against those pertinent officials but with an Ombudsman which, we believe, will carry out the mandate of that particular office," according to President Aquino’s spokesperson. No law was violated when the House justice committee approved for plenary vote the impeachment complaints against Gutierrez, Lacierda maintained. “Binigyan po ng House si Ombudsman Gutierrez more than five months. They were given an SQA (status quo ante), they were given enough time to study, they were given enough time to anticipate the possibility that the decision would be adverse to them. They failed to prepare for that decision. Now, they’re claiming that there’s lack of due process," he said. “Certainly, there was no violation of the due process – both substantive and procedural due process – to Ombudsman Gutierrez," he added. Impeachment is a political process with legal requirements that the House committee followed to the letter, according to the Malacañang spokesperson. “This is truly a political process with legal requirements and that both have been subscribed to, both have been complied with by the House. To say that binastos ang legalities dito ay hindi po totoo." — VS, GMA News