Solon accuses Tupas of ‘vested interests’ in Merci impeach case

An opposition lawmaker accused justice committee chair Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. (5th District) of “vested interests" during the plenary deliberations on the impeachment case of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Monday night. Deputy Minority Leader Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco (2nd District) called Tupas “cowardly" and “lacking in courage" after the House justice panel chairperson assigned Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, committee vice-chairperson, to answer questions from the opposition congressman. “Natatakot siyang humarap sa akin. Maraming tinatago kaya ayaw humarap [Tupas is afraid to face me because he has a lot to hide] ," Syjuco said during interpellations on Gutierrez’s impeachment case. Syjuco said Tupas did not want to face him since he knew “too much background" on Tupas, who is also the elder legislator’s godson. The deputy minority leader also accused Tupas of have “an axe to grind" against the Ombudsman, since the justice committee chair’s father, former Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., has a pending case before Gutierrez’s office. Deputy Speaker Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella, however, reminded Syjuco “to avoid attacking personalities" during the interpellation and focus on questions related to the impeachment case. Upon Fuentebella’s motion, the personal attacks of Syjuco were stricken off the records of the House for being “unparliamentary language". Majority Floor Leader Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II even threatened sending the matter to the House ethics committee, but later withdrew his motion after a brief talk with Syjuco. The lower chamber is set to vote before midnight Monday or in the wee hours of Tuesday whether to send articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial. Under Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, the impeachment case against the Ombudsman will have to get a one-third vote of all House members— in this case, 95 affirmative votes— before it can be transmitted to the Senate. – MRT, GMA News