Tomas and Cutie lauded for backing impeachment

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City District Reps. Tomas Osmeña and Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar were lauded by the Cebu City Council for voting to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for betrayal of public trust, saying that it was a concrete statement that the Cebuanos are for justice and the restoration of public trust in government.

Seven Cebuano solons, including two party-list representatives, voted “yes.” They are representatives Del Mar of Cebu City-North District, Osmeña of Cebu City-South District, Eduardo Gullas of the First District, Ramon “Red” Durano VI of the Fifth District, Luigi Quisumbing of the Sixth District, Coop-NATCCO Partylist Rep. Cresente Paez and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Partylist Rep. Raymund Democrito Mendoza.

It was an overwhelming vote to impeach Merceditas Gutierrez with 212 of 283 congressmen voting to impeach the Ombudsman.

Forty-six others opposed the move, four abstained, and the rest did not participate in the voting. Only 95 votes were needed to approve the justice committee resolution recommending the Ombudsman’s impeachment.

“Through defiant and arrogant refusal to act on one major case of corruption after another, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has only herself to blame for losing the trust of the Filipino people. Indeed she lost the public trust long before,” the resolution read.

The proposed resolution was sponsored by Councilor Alvin Dizon and Edgardo Labella.

“We commend Cebu City District Reps. Tomas Osmeña and Rachel Marguerite ‘Cutie’ del Mar for voting yes to the impeachment,” their resolution read. 

Of the 12 Cebuano congressmen, only four voted against the impeachment. They are Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia of the Second district, Pablo John Garcia of the Third district, Benhur Salimbangon of the Fourth district and ANAD Partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr.

Lapu-Lapu Rep. Arturo Radaza failed to cast his vote after he left the session hall.

Alcover claimed those who voted for the impeachment were assured of the immediate release of their Priority Development Fund amounting to P70 million, another P20 million for projects from other agencies and P20,000 cash to be given right after the voting.

But Osmeña said that Alcover is hungry for media publicity.

“That’s just a publicity stunt. Remember I was the only mayor who didn’t sign the lamppost deal worth hundreds of millions of pesos but for P20,000, I would sell my vote?” Osmeña said.

“Let the public judge who is lying,” he added.

Del Mar said she does not want to dignify the statement of Alcover. — (FREEMAN)