Alvarez ponders need to impeach retiring Ombudsman Morales

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday admitted that he himself is questioning the need to impeach Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, given that she will already retire in July this year.

Asked if he is still open to going through the impeachment process given Morales' impending retirement, Alvarez said: "Kaya nga e. Tinatanong ko rin sa sarili ko yan."

But the House leader said that such situation will not prevent him from calling for endorsers for the impeachment complaint against Morales already submitted to the House of Representatives.

In an ambush interview, Alvarez said he is one with former Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto "Jing" Paras in calling on House members to endorse the impeachment complaint the latter filed against Morales.

Paras' call came after Morales refused to implement the suspension order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang.

"Dalawa na kaming nananawagan," Alvarez told reporters.

Alvarez said he still looking for possible endorsers for the complaint, as he himself does not want to endorse it.

"Hanggang ngayon hinahanap ko yan, kasi ako naman hindi ako pwedeng mag-endorse no dahil nga baka kung anong sasabihin naman," he said.

"Kahit nga doon kay CJ [Maria Lourdes] Sereno, hindi nga ako nag-endorse tapos ako pa rin ang pinagbibintangan, ako raw ang may interes para ma-impeach siya. Pambihira naman," he added.

Paras, along with Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution president Atty. Eligio Mallari on December 13, 2017 submitted an impeachment complaint against Morales at the House, but with no endorsers.

Paras said that as of the moment, no congressman has yet to endorse the said complaint.

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Justice is currently conducting deliberations to determine probable cause on the impeachment complaint against Sereno. — RSJ, GMA News