CLOSE VOTING ON GUTIERREZ'S ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT SEEN
MANILA, MARCH 17, 2011 (STAR) By Paolo Romero and Michael Punongbayan - House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman sees a close vote on the articles of impeachment against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Monday even if administration supporters dominate the House.
Opposition lawmakers, in a joint statement yesterday, also expressed confidence in the impartiality of senators who would act as judges in the event Gutierrez stands trial in the Senate for betrayal of public trust.
"The Senate is the last proving ground where the right to a fair trial of the Ombudsman, or any impeachable official, should be upheld. The impeachment should not just be a political exercise, but an exercise of adjudicatory powers entailing adherence to certain constitutional tenets and judicial procedures on due process," the minority bloc statement read.
"We are confident that the Senate will be ready to dispense these powers with independence and impartiality," the lawmakers said.
Lagman said the majority bloc could be in for a surprise on Monday as voting would be close even if pro-impeachment lawmakers manage to muster enough votes to impeach Gutierrez.
"The difference between yes and no votes will not be big. If lawmakers are given more time to ventilate more issues during floor debates, many will see the light that the articles of impeachment will not be strong," he said in a press conference.
He said those who are still undecided "will be able to absorb pros and cons during debate and might vote against impeachment (of Gutierrez)."
"That's why the House leadership is rushing this (impeachment) because if we have more time for debate, members of the House would be enlightened on the issue," Lagman said.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay and Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez voiced doubts on claims of pro-impeachment congressmen that they would get 150 votes.
Meanwhile, lawyers of Gutierrez are ready to defend her if and when the impeachment complaints reach the Senate.
"We are ready for any eventuality, we hope of course we don't have to reach that stage," lawyer Salvador Panelo, spokesman for Gutierrez, told The STAR yesterday.
"We maintain our belief and trust on the independent mindedness and the judiciousness of the members of the Senate," Panelo stressed.
"We are confident that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will get a fair and an impartial Senate trial if it reaches that stage," Panelo answered when asked if they are considering asking some senators to inhibit.
The House of Representatives was supposed to vote last Tuesday on whether to approve the articles of impeachment against Gutierrez but the voting was moved to next week.
The House justice committee, after looking into the merits of two separate impeachment complaints accusing the Ombudsman of betraying public trust and other offenses, has found probable cause to impeach her.
Gutierrez, amid allegations that she sat on high-profile cases like the fertilizer fund scam and the national broadband network anomaly, has maintained that she is innocent.
"We are hopeful that many members of the House of Representatives will be guided by the rule of law and the rules on evidence when the issue of the impeachment is put to a vote in the plenary session," Panelo said.
Gutierrez, in an earlier interview, said former Supreme Court associate justice Serafin Cuevas and lawyer Anacleto Diaz would be among her legal counsels at the Senate impeachment trial.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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