Gloria Arroyo says she’d vote against Ombudsman Remulla’s impeachment
MANILA, Philippines — Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday said she will vote against a resolution in the House of Representatives that would seek to impeach Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Macapagal-Arroyo made the clarification following online reports about the alleged plot to impeach Remulla.
“[I]f an impeachment resolution is filed in the House against him, I will vote against it,” the former president said in a statement.
READ: Senator on Ombudsman impeachment: Why so fast?
“Impeachments are fundamentally political, and a vote in favor of Ombudsman Remulla would be my response,” she also said.
Macapagal-Arroyo noted that Remulla became her ally when he was a Cavite representative during her term “and did much valuable legislative policy and oversight for my administration.”
She also noted that Remulla was a career official as assistant secretary in former President Joseph Estrada’s office when the Second People Power Revolution occurred. The Second Edsa Revolution, also known as “Edsa Dos”, led to Estrada’s resignation.
“Rather than cling to his Civil Service security of tenure, he graciously vacated his post to give me a free hand in organizing Malacañang,” she noted.
On Monday, Arroyo’s legal counsel Joseph Frianeza said the former president denied online reports that the former “unequivocally denies knowledge or involvement to ‘planned impeachment complaint’ against Ombudsman Remulla.”
Inquirer sought Remulla for comment but he has yet to respond as of posting. /mr
