After the eight hours debate by the members of House of Representatives regarding the impeachment case of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the house has finally decided to pursue the impeachment case after 212 members voted to impeach Gutierrez against 46 who are unfavoured while four of the members has abstained. The debate ended at past midnight.
This decision of the House of Representatives has made way for Gutierrez to be trial by the senate for betrayal of public trust.
Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the committee on justice said earlier that he is confident that they can gather enough number of votes to send the articles of impeachment to the senate trial.
Hours before the session has started, Tupas and Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III, (–foul word(s) removed–)ured that 80 of their co members of the Liberal Party in the House had confirmed their presence and votes.
According to Tupas there had been a plan to kill the impeachment complaint against Gutierrez after a call has been received by members of the House of Representatives from a high raking official of INC.
Before the reading of the committee report and articles of impeachment by Tupas has started, there had been a 50 minutes delayed due to intervening motions after the roll call was raised.
Interpellation has lasted for about two to three hours after the speeches and followed by the nominal voting. Tupas said.
Just this weekend a text message had been circulating around the members of the House giving a warning to the lawmakers that they would get “zero” pork barrel if they vote “no” or abstain from voting. Minority leader Edcel Lagman has marked its disappointment about this text and saying that it started from Cavite Representaive Emilio Abaya.
However Abaya has denied this allegation, but Lagman followed a statement saying “A denial is expected but not sufficient”.
Lagman asked the committee of the whole to investigate this matter but majority leader Neptail Gonzales II has turned it down saying that the majority leader is the one who can make such move.
Gonzales agreed to refer this matter to the committee on the rules after the insistence of Lagman.