The committee on justice of the House of Representatives, in its first hearing on Wednesday on the two impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, found both complaints sufficient in form.

The committee, chaired by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, has yet to decide when to consolidate the two complaints -- filed on July 22 by former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros, retired general Danilo Lim, and Felipe and Evelyn Pestano; and by Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Sister Mary John Mananzan of PAGBABAGO, Danilo Ramos of KMP, Attorney Edre Olalia of the National Union of People's Lawyers, Ferdinand Gaite of COURAGE, and James Terry Ridon of the League of Filipino Students.

The first complaint alleged that the Ombudsman was culpable of violating the Constitution and betraying public trust over her inaction on the alleged murder case of Navy Ensign Philip Pestano, the arrest of Hontiveros in 2006 in a rally, and the botched national broadband network agreement with Chinese firm ZTE Corporation.

The second complaint, on the other hand, alleged there was "failure and omission to act promptly... on the anomalous disbursement of funds and other anomalous transactions" in the case of the P729-million fertilizer fund scam despite Senate Report no. 54, Commission on Audit (CoA) findings, and cases filed by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)and other concerned citizens detailing the anomalies and graft-ridden irregularities in the transactions.

Tupas said the committee will decide in their next hearing if the complaints are sufficient in substance.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said that "now is the time to rectify mistakes of monumental proportions in the government’s anti-corruption initiative and to realize the new administration’s promise of change."

She also said the initiative to remove the controversial Ombudsman is one of the several cases they are closely monitoring concerning the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

This early, Hontiveros commended the House committee chair "for keeping his word that his committee will hear the complaint on September 1. This is a positive sign and a step in the right direction not only in removing inept public officials but also in making the Arroyo government accountable for its transgressions against the people. I hope the committee’s fervor in dealing with the case will not waver."

In September 2009, the House justice committee junked the first impeachment complaint against Gutierrez filed by former Senator President Jovito Salonga. The committee said the complaint was insufficient in substance. (PNA/PIA9-BST)