Impeachment News bites and some more bites!

1. Seen – Neil Tupas Jr. is really scared of Bobby Syjuco! Shown on TV during the recent House Plenary when he avoided debating the elder ilonggo his ninong sa kasal!

2. Seen – Romulo voted for impeachment. Part of horse trading?

3. Reported – JV Ejercito changes his vote on second pass from NO to YES. The price is right!

4. Heard- Sotto proposed no media during impeachment. So that Senators planning to run again may not have free airtime. WISE HA!

5. Heard – Bong Bong may vote against Mercy for allowing his father to be finally buried at the libingan ng bayani.

6. Heard – Lapid may vote against Mercy too!

7. Heard – Congressman saying hay salamat natapos din, sobrang stressful! Daming text!

8. Heard – Press mad at Sotto for trying to curtail press freedom!

9. Said – Senators promise not to vote according to party lines. Is this a signal that some have already made their minds have been “convinced” by the Palace.

10. Said – President said he will not meddle in the Impeachment case. That’s not what he says in his speeches!

11. Joke – Miriam hopes a fool moon does not happen during the impeachment hearings.

12. Joke – Leila De Lima said that Lacson can come out now. She didn’t mean he should show himself…

13. Joke – Subok na Matibay, Subok na Matatag just collapsed and it was not the earthquake that did it. Too much Polo and representation expenses.

Ombudsman Merceditas sad about impeachment

In a press conference embattled Ombudsman asked for fairness in the upcoming impeachment case to be heard in the Senate. She said that the cases against her and her office are weak because they really did not look at the history and timelines of the cases. Law is a process and the Ombudsman follows this process.

Asked on the case of General Garcia, she said that the former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and Special Prosecutor Villaignacio are the ones to be faulted because they had filed a weak case. Further they misinformed President Aquino on the true nature of what was filed. A demurer was never filed. They basically misled the President into believing that the Office of the Ombudsman, the institution is graft ridden and protectors of corrupt people. The disinformation campaign launched against us led to where we are now.

Marcelo and Villa-ignacio were found to have lied by the Sandiganbayan. Hence, they had to issue their public apologies. In fact the Ombudsman under her went into the plea bargaining agreement option in order to get back something for the Philippines. Otherwise, based on the case that Marcelo filed with the Sandiganbayan, we would have lost everything.

Gutierrez did not want to comment on insinuations that Congressmen were getting back at her for the cases that have been filed against them by their constituents with the Office of the Ombudsman. She however cited that the case of former Governor Neil Tupas Sr. regarding irregularities in the construction of the Iloilo International Airport is now with the Sandiganbayan. I hope the Senate will be more fair in hearing the impeachment case.

She denied that she is the gatekeeper of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and that the Deputy Ombudsmen were not appointed by the former President. The problem lies in the process of law and our legal system because it is perceived to be slow. However, it is a system that ensures the rights of everybody and usually that takes time. She stated that anybody can come to the Ombudsman and file cases against erring officials for as long as they have enough evidence. We will help them with these cases if they have evidence. That is our duty.

On whether she watched the whole proceeding last night, she said that she only watched parts of it but her lawyers, Atty. Anacleto Diaz and former Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas watched through the 8 hours of the proceedings. However she already expected that the House Resolution would be passed because of the pressure that were put on them. On a question whether the former President called her, she just said in tagalog: “Kayo naman palaging ganyan ang tanong niyo” and answered that she did not talk to her.

I am saddened by this whole affair after having served the government for almost 40 years. At least the Senate will be fair in the hearings. At least that is my hope. Asked whether she will be going on leave during the trial, she said she did not see the need to do so.

As of this reporting, the family of the Ombudsman has experienced mixed feelings most specially in light of one of her daughters passing the bar exams.

Arroyo advises Tupas – limit cases

Senator Joker Arroyo has advised the House of Representatives to concentrate on only 2 of the strongest cases for the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. It is not the not the volume of evidence, but the quality of evidence that will count according to the Senator who led the prosecution panel in the impeachment proceedings of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Of the 150 Congressmen who have so far agreed on the impeachment move, 117 have pending cases with the Ombudsman. This includes Congressman Neil Tupas Jr. himself whose father, a former Governor of Iloilo has a pending case surrounding the construction of the Iloilo Airport. A lynch-mob is how one journalist described the Congressmen! They want to save their own necks by making the Ombudsman and the prosecutors disappear. They have to remember that it was not the Ombudsman who initiated the cases but private citizens from their own provinces. The Congress is set to vote in plenary on Wednesday March 16. How Can Tupas himself lead the Prosecution quipped Congressman Syjuco when he is considered tainted and biased? He will make the House of Representatives look stupid!

In the Senate, only 5 to 6 Senators are confirmed to vote against Gutierrez. These are Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Franklin Drillon, Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Teofisto Guingona, Trillanes, Jinggoy and Miriam. Senator Enrile, Senate President has assured the Ombudsman that the Senate will be fair in hearing the impeachment case which slated to be heard in May and if Arroyo is correct will be a long drawn affair.

The President has ordered the Liberal Party to support the impeachment move. Other officials in the administration had advised the beleaguered Ombudsman to just resign. For her part, the Ombudsman who is popularly supported by her office personnel and some sectors had stated that she would never resign from her sworn oath to defend the interest of the Filipino people.

Tupas should step aside – Syjuco

In a live committee meeting of the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment proposition in Congress, Congressman Bobby Syjuco moved to have Congressman Neil Tupas inhibit himself out of delicadeza. This motion came in light of cases pending in the Ombudsman concerning the father of Congressman Tupas who was a former governor and who was rumored to have approached Deputy Ombudsman Casimiro on his pending cases.

Congressman Lagman, Minority Leader, also noted that there is a pending Supreme Court motion for reconsideration from the Ombudsman and that Congress should follow due process. Congressman Golez for his part stated that parliament has the right to impeach regardless of whether it is a judicial or a political process. 76% of the members of the House of Representatives are none lawyers. Therefore, it, impeachment, would be a political process rather than a judicial one. None Lawyers will decide this according to what they feel is right for the public Golez ended.

In a separate press forum of the CBCP in Intramuros, embattled Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez noted that media has been unfair to her in light of all the allegations. She has stated that she will not face Congress as she does not expect any impartiality. She noted that she will not be able to get any semblance of fairness if those hearing the impeachment themselves have pending cases with the Ombudsman such as the father of Congressman Tupas and Congressman Farinas. The Ombudsman has held fast against Congressman, both being constitutional bodies, stating that the motion for reconsideration still pending in the Supreme Court should first be decided and that she would gladly face the Senate rather than the house. Former Senator Nene Pimentel stated that impeachment proceedings should be impartial in the CBCP forum.

Congressman Albano stated that we should determine probable cause first. We should not be too liberal on the rules of impeachment and should be guided by a judge for the interest of the public. The sense of fairness is lost when this is done in haste Congressman Oreta stated. Congressman Climaco noted that the Committee should turn itself into a collegial body to vote according to their conscience as this is what is expected of the Public.

In light of the allegations and of pending cases with the Ombudsman, the particular congressional proceeding has been put in bad light and has raised eyebrows on its partiality. The cases presented and supported by Congressman Teddy Casino seem to bear weight. So let the cases stand for themselves and bear scrutiny . Congressman Miro Quimbo, Vice Chairman of the Justice Committee, found it alarming that the officials of the House, most specially members of the Justice Committee, are now being hounded and assaulted before the bar of public opinion. Congressman Tupas alleged that the confidential laws are being partially implemented by the Ombudsman.

The 55 member Justice Committee is set to vote on the motion to impeach the Ombudsman where 28 will be the deciding vote. Ex Officio members can vote, but these votes will not be counted according to the House Rules as set by the Speaker.

ERAP in lalalalalala Land

The whole speech of ERAP today just gives us a glimpse of how fractured our society is at present and how politicians would manipulate this to their end. He chose an audience that would obviously accept any concocted dream that his speech writers created. He belied everything and so believed himself during his delivery that he actually forgot the truth! When he was delivering his obviously dream speech, he forgot about his friend and confidant, Governor Singson who turned against him and caused his downfall. His acting prowess obviously leapt out in his tirade of lies and dreams and once again projected the actor that he is and will always be.

It’s all the same shady characters and washed out politicians like Maceda standing behind this drunkard despot justifying the decision as against the document ERAP signed as a condition for his pardon. Even Jejomar Binay who is searching for political relevance in 2010 was all smiles given that he already assured some votes around Laguna where most of the squatters of Makati where transferred ahead of the 2010 elections. Take note, most of them still choose to vote in Makati even though they are no longer bonafide residents thanks to the PNR and Bayani Fernando.

The Cabal that came to Tondo today is no one else’ fault but GMA’s and her lack of political will. Had she not pardoned this criminal, he would still be where he should be – jail!

ERAP is not the problem here. Our problem as a people is our lack of memory and how easily we are duped. It is our penchant for forgiving and forgetting. It is the large gap between the have’s and those who don’t. Our problem is our society and the norms we live by. How to change it remains in our hands.

ERAP is free to dream. He is even freer to aspire for any position. The decision remains with the Filipino on whether they would help ERAP achieve his or achieve their own dream for change in our nation.

ERAP was in Lala land today! Are you? You decide.