LACSON: JUNKING OF IMPEACH RAPS VS MERCY PAR FOR COURSE

Nothing to be surprised about.

This was how Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday described the junking by the House of Representatives of the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

"I will be surprised if the House of Representatives impeached her instead of dismissing the complaint," Lacson said.

On Tuesday night, the House of Representatives voted 172-15-1 in favor of the committee report junking the impeachment complaint against Gutierrez due to lack of substance.

Committee Report 2483, prepared by the House committee on justice under Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, ruled that while the complaint was "sufficient in form, (it) is not sufficient in substance."

The complaint was filed by civil society groups and former Cabinet officials led by former Senate President Jovito Salonga.

Lacson noted the administration of Mrs. Arroyo has had a track record of twisting legal procedures to protect its allies from constitutional sanctions, including impeachment.

He said Mrs. Arroyo herself has benefited from such twisting of legal procedures, with her allies saving her from impeachment four times.

"If there's one big accomplishment this administration has, it's able to tire us all, yung feeling of resignation prevalent not only among people but even us in the opposition. It's very tiring ... But we cannot afford to be tired," he said.

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