MANILA, March 22, 2011— Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez urged senators to properly handle the impeachment case of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
Iñiguez said the lawmakers should properly deal with the issue after the Congress approved the articles of impeachment to bring Gutierrez to trial at the Senate.
The prelate called on the lawmakers to maintain objectivity and impartiality in handling the case of the embattled of anti-graft chief.
“They should just do what they are tasked to do under the Constitution. They should have no other goals but to find out the truth and render justice,†said Iñiguez.
The church official is hopeful that the impeachment trial would serve its purpose and will not be used as a venue for political grandstanding.
“It is really up to them (if they will have other intentions) but we hope they will just do what is expected of them by the people,†said Iñiguez.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the impeachment of Gutierrez for her alleged betrayal of public trust via a vote of 212-46 along with four abstentions.
This despite the repeated attempts of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies to suspend the proceedings in the House plenary.
Gutierrez is accused of protecting Arroyo and her allies against alleged graft cases filed against them.
The articles of impeachment have to be sent to the Senate with senators serving as trial judges in the first impeachment trial against a Philippine ombudsman.
Senators are expected to convene into an impeachment court on May 9 or soon after they return to session from their recess. (CBCPNews)
