Speaker nixes signature drive vs Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has rejected calls to speed up the process of impeaching Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez through a signature campaign among members of the House of Representatives, saying due process must be observed.

Belmonte made the statement as the House committee on justice declared on Wednesday that the two impeachment complaints against Gutierrez were sufficient in form.

The panel, chaired by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, is expected to vote next week on whether the two documents – filed separately by militant party-lists Akbayan and Bayan Muna – are sufficient in substance or whether they should be consolidated into one complaint.

Another mode of impeaching an official is through gathering signatures of one-third of the members of the House. With enough signatures, the complaint would be sent immediately to the Senate for trial without the need for committee hearings.

In Gutierrez’s case, 90 signatures are reportedly needed for the complaints to merit the Senate’s attention.

“I don’t think that (signature gathering) is a good idea,” Belmonte told reporters. “Let it (impeachment complaint) be heard properly and people be given chance to explain. Fast-tracking it? I don’t think so,” he said.

“The notion that we are going around to sign and get 90 signatures, I don’t think that is called for. Let the justice committee study them,” he said.

“I am advocating due process,” he added.

Belmonte also backed Tupas’ chairmanship amid calls for him to inhibit out of propriety. The Ombudsman has indicted his father – a former governor and congressman – for graft and gross negligence and is expected to stand trial before the Sandiganbayan.

“I am confident with Congressman Tupas. He is a very upright person,” he said.

Hands off

Malacañang, for its part, said it is keeping its hands off the impeachment case against Gutierrez.

“There is a separation of powers between the legislature and the executive department. The legislature has its independence and we respect its processes, including the move for impeachment,” Secretary for Operations Herminio Coloma said.

“We should just allow the process to unfold and to operate within the purview of public opinion. We all want to know the real sentiments of the people (through their congressmen) so that actions will be guided accordingly. The process must be allowed to take its course,” Coloma said.

Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron questioned Tupas’ refusal to inhibit, saying he was obviously attempting to get back at Gutierrez.

“I think this (possible bias) will haunt the chairman in the entire proceedings of this impeachment hearing,” Biron said.

“He (Tupas) should have been advised to inhibit,” he said. “We are all in pursuit of good governance and here we are accusing the Ombudsman of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution,” he said.

Biron warned the issue would “taint” the proceedings and expose the hearings to speculations. With Delon Porcalla