MANILA: A major political battle is shaping up in the Philippines as the move to oust the country's top anti-graft prosecutor gained momentum Tuesday with a congressional panel voting twice, 39-9 and 39-6, to declare that there is “probable cause” to impeach the government Ombudsman for failing to investigate former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other top officials for alleged corruption. President Benigno Aquino III earlier described the impeachment case as a “benchmark for those who are for or against the people.” “This is a fight that one cannot retreat from without being traitors to our fellow Filipinos,” Aquino told lawmakers who are members of the ruling Liberal Party where he is the chairman. Aquino virtually rallied his partymates to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, saying she betrayed public trust by sitting on the cases of certain high-ranking government officials of the previous Arroyo administration. Following the vote at the House Justice Committee, the complaint against Gutierrez will now be heard by the whole 283-member House of Representatives. Members of the House will debate then vote later this month whether to impeach Gutierrez and send her to the Senate for trial. Gutierrez has defiantly denied the allegations raised against her. Under the Philippine Constitution, the impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman will have to get a one-third vote of all House members — in this case, 94 affirmative votes — before it can be transmitted to the Senate for trial. In a double whammy for Gutierrez, the Supreme Court also on Tuesday denied her bid for the court to block the House from hearing the two impeachment complaints against her. The Malacanang presidential palace welcomed the moves taken by the House justice committee and the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Senator Franklin Drilon said the Senate is all set to take on the impeachment complaint against Gutierrez once it is elevated by the House to the chamber. Senator Francis Pangilinan had earlier asked Gutierrez to resign even before the impeachment proceedings reach the Senate because the trial will only bring the legislative process to a “standstill.”
