2 impeach raps vs Ombudsman sufficient in form

MANILA - The House justice committee found the two impeachment cases against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez sufficient in form during Wednesday's hearing.

The committee has yet to decide whether to consolidate the two cases when it voted 39-1 in favor of declaring the complaint endorsed by Akbayan Representatives Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello as sufficient in form.

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The second complaint, which was also found sufficient in form, was endorsed by Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casiño.

House justice committee chairman Niel Tupas Jr. explained that the next step is to determine if both complaints are sufficient in substance, a process which would be discussed in next Tuesday's hearing.

Representative Ferjenel Biron (fourth district, Iloilo) and other members of the opposition party argued that Tupas should inhibit himself from the proceedings to avoid bias, as his father was found guilty by Gutierrez for dishonesty and grave misconduct.

"(This) is to the interest of everyone and in pursuit of matuwid na daan sa ating gobyerno with respect to the very basic issue of propriety. The father of the chairman was found guilty by the Ombudsman in its ruling on April 15, 2010 of dishonesty and grave misconduct," Biron said.

Tupas argued the objection should have been raised earlier and also assured members of the committee he will proceed with the case "with utmost impartiality." (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)