Calling Arroyo to Ombudsman impeach trial ‘counterproductive,’ says senator

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Gregorio Honasan is lukewarm to a lawmaker’s suggestion to call former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Meceditas Gutierrez, saying it is “counterproductive” and will further complicate the proceeding.

“I suggest we exercise caution because it might complicate an already complicated situation. We are drawing the line na [already] and we are inflicting too much partisanship to an already partisan political process,” Honasan said in an interview on Tuesday.

“Why would we want to complicate the process? You want to divide the nation again?” he said.

Honasan said he was not defending Arroyo and that what he only wanted was for everyone to focus on the impeachment case against the Ombudsman and other more important problems confronting the nation.

Calling in the impeachment trial of the Ombudsman, the senator said, might also reinforce suspicions that the former leader was the real target of the Aquino government.

“That is the written unexpressed suspicion,” said Honasan.

“For the meantime, let sleeping dogs lie. Let’s not raise issues more than we can handle. Ang sa akin…, aside from rendering justice to Gonzales so we can educate the citizenry, this is a golden opportunity to restore whatever lost in our  justice system,” he said.

“To prematurely drag the former president, might be counterproductive,” the senator added.