House prosecutors ready for impeachment

MANILA -- The prosecutors fielded by the House of Representatives are "very ready" for the trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez as they brought the articles of impeachment to the Senate Wednesday afternoon.

Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the House committee on justice and lead prosecutor, said he is confident that the six articles of impeachment are strong enough to remove the Ombudsman from office.

He said the prosecution will begin and end with its strongest charges: Gutierrez's inaction on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and her low conviction rate.

Also in the articles of impeachment are the Ombudsman's failure to act on the Euro Generals scandal, the Mega Pacific deal, the National Broadband Network-ZTE deal, and the death of Navy Ensign Philip Pestano.

Tupas said the House prosecution team already has three members: himself, Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Farinas, and Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tanada III.

He said he still has to fill all slots in a committee of 11.

He added the prosecution is also considering hiring legal counsel to advise them during the trial.

With Tupas at the Senate were Akbayan party-list Rep. Kaka Bag-ao,

Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Teddy Casino and Neri Colmenares.

Farinas and Tanada, Tupas's team mates in the prosecution were also at the filing.(Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)