Lawmaker: Merci still faces criminal raps even if she resigns
Resigning from her post may save impeached Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez from a trial at the Senate, but may lead to criminal charges to be handled by her successor, a lawmaker said Friday. Reacting to news about Gutierrezâs reported resignation, House justice committee chairman Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said the move, if true, could save her from the Senate trial but not from possible criminal charges that would likely be filed against her. "Magiging moot ang impeachment trial sa Senado, pero hindi ibig sabihin libre na siya sa ginawa niya. The process of impeachment is only to impeach and remove her from office. Ang second step, ang kaso against [her]," Tupas said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the venue of such charges would be before the next Ombudsman. After her impeachment by the House of Representatives in March, Gutierrez was set to face trial by the Senate starting May 9.