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Rallyists to Merci: 'OMG,' Oust Merceditas Gutierrez


UPDATED 12:10 a.m. - Carrying placards that read "OMG" — Oust Merceditas Gutierrez — some 300 rallyists marched on Tuesday to the residence of the embattled Ombudsman, who will face an impeachment trial at the Senate in May this year. Some of the rallyists, who called for the removal of Gutierrez from her post, carried signs that also read "OMG" but meant "Oust Maka-Gloria," referring to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. According to radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo, the rallyists marched from De La Salle University (DLSU) along Taft Avenue, Manila to Gutierrez's house in Malate, Manila. The marchers, who included former party-list representative Theresia Baraquel (a.k.a. Risa Hontiveros), and singer Leah Navarro, carried peach-colored balloons as they marched. Meanwhile, members of militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan staged a lightning rally near the Department of Justice (DOJ) to push for Arroyo's imprisonment. The group, calling itself the "Imprison Arroyo Movement," pushed for an investigation against Arroyo for alleged abuses and acts of corruption committed during her term. Gutierrez's critics had accused her of sitting on graft cases involving then President Arroyo. Gutierrez is a law schoolmate of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. The House of Representatives earlier impeached Gutierrez and paved the way for her impeachment trial at the Senate. Senators will sit as judges during the impeachment trial, which is scheduled to start on May 9 this year. Impeachment proceedings The House of Representatives approved on March 22 this year the articles of impeachment to bring Gutierrez to trial at the Senate for her alleged betrayal of public trust. In a 212-46 vote with four abstentions, the lawmakers impeached Gutierrez for alleged betrayal of public trust due to the low conviction rates during her term and her supposed inaction on five high-profile cases. The House members approved House Justice Committee Report No. 778 as contained in House Resolution 1089 stating the articles of impeachment against Gutierrez after almost seven hours of marathon plenary discussions. The members of the House of Representatives on March 23 proceeded to the Senate in Pasay City to transmit to senators the six articles of impeachment against Gutierrez. According to a radio dzBB report, the lawmakers who transmitted the articles were House Justice committee chairman Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., and Representatives Lorenzo Tañada III, Teddy Casino, Rodolfo Fariñas, and Neri Colmenares. – VVP, GMA News
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