MANILA, Philippines -- The impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Mereceditas Gutierrez have reached their final stage in the justice committee as its members would determine if there would be probable cause to send them to the Senate for trial. Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the committee, said voting is expected this Tuesday when the hearing resumes at 9:30 am.
Gutierrez, in past interviews, said she would not attend the proceedings and would just face trial in the Senate.
In September, the justice committee voted that the two complaints were sufficient in form and substance. Its members again voted last week on whether the complaints have sufficient grounds to be heard.
Voting on the existence of probable cause comes last.
If probable cause is determined, the committee will prepare the report for approval in plenary. The committee report needs at least 94 votes or one-third of the 283 total membership of the House to send the complaints to the Senate for trial.
Complainants want Gutierrez impeached for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for not acting on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, the national broadband network deal with China's ZTE Corp., among other allegations.
Congressmen from the pro-administration and ruling Liberal Party, agreed to support the impeachment complaints.
The LP has 81 members in the House.
Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Phil. Daily Inquirer
