Speaker goes slow on Ombuds impeachment

MANILA -- Despite the go signal given by the High Tribunal to the House of Representatives on the impeachment proceedings against the Ombudsman, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte sees no need to rush on its investigation.

In fact, he wants the House justice committee to wait for final decision of the Supreme Court (SC) if and when Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez decides to file a motion for reconsideration on her petition to stop the impeachment proceedings.

“Yes of course we will (wait). Some people may voice their impatience but under my watch, we will adhere to the requirements… and one of them is the other party was given a certain period in which to ask for a motion for reconsideration,” Belmonte told reporters in his weekly briefing Thursday.

But for justice committee chair and Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., the decision of the SC removes the legal obstacle for the committee to perform its constitutional duty.

Tupas said in a text message to reporters that the committee will be requiring Gutierrez next week to answer the complaints filed against her by former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes.

“We will require the Ombudsman next week to answer the complaints filed against her. After that, we will schedule the voting on the determination of the sufficiency of the grounds of impeachment," he added. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)