8 senators signed report to impeach Ombudsman ‘with reservations’

MANILA, Philippines – Eight of 14 senators who signed the initial report of the Senate blue ribbon committee expressed reservations on the recommendation to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Those who signed with reservations were Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Loren Legarda, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, Pia and Alan Cayetano and Many Villar.

“I concur with all the findings but express no opinion on that portion of the report…’on the impeachment of the Ombudsman,’” wrote Drilon when he signed the committee report.

“I express my reservation and no part /opinion regarding the impeachment as it might reach us and constitute prejudgment,” Escudero also wrote.

Revilla said he signed the report with “reservations and without prejudice to my partiality as impeachment judge.

Legarda said she signed with reservation regarding the call for impeachment of the Ombudsman “as it would affect my vote as senator-judge.”

Trillanes said he concurred with the committee report “except on the first item of the recommendation on the Ombudsman since it will affect my impartiality when the proper time comes and the Senate is convened as an impeachment court.

On his part, Villar said, he signed the report also with reservations, saying the impeachment process “must be observed.”

Senator Alan Cayetano, the minority leader in the Senate, said prudence dictated that the “assessment” findings, and conclusion” of the liability or the issue of accountability of impeachable officers such as the President, the Vice President, the members of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman should be done by the House of Representatives so that senators will not be placed in a compromising position if and when the articles of impeachment is finally transmitted to the Senate.

His sister in the Senate, Pia Cayetano, simply echoed her younger brother’s opinion.

“Same reservations as Senator Alan Cayetano,” she wrote when she signed the committee.

Senator Joker Arroyo also signed with reservation but because he did not participate in the proceedings “as to enable me to make any kind of judgment.”

Completing the 14 signatories of the report were the chairman of the committee, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Serge Osmena.

Guingona said the partial report would be transmitted to the plenary probably on Monday for either adoption or rejection. A simple majority of present members in the plenary, he said, was needed to act on it.

Once approved in the Senate plenary, the recommendation of impeachment of the Ombudsman would be forwarded to the House of Representatives.

And it is now up to the House, Guigona said, to decide whether or not to include the report in the two impeachment complaints against Gutierrez, which have been recommended for plenary action in the lower chamber.

Under the law, no impeachment case can be filed against the same impeachable officer within a year.