Statement of the Presidential Spokesperson on the approval by the House of the Articles of Impeachment against the Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez

Statement of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:

On the approval of the Articles of Impeachment against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez by the House of Representatives on March 22, 2011

[Released on March 22, 2011]

The House of Representatives made history tonight, by approving the Articles of Impeachment against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. By doing so, the House has put an end to the long era of impunity that tarnished our institutions and made a mockery of the bedrock principle of accountability enshrined in our Constitution.

In contrast to the recent past, when the shame of our institutions was cloaked in darkness, it is as if daylight radiated from the Session Hall of the House as it voted to uphold the principle that public office is a public trust. No one is above scrutiny and no one, particularly the brazen, can escape accountability.

The House, in transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, now has the task to vigorously and effectively make its case to the combined juries of the Senate sitting as the Court of Impeachment, and to the Filipino people who will be sitting in judgment on the entire process. This is the glory of democracy: where the law applies to all, where scrutiny exempts no one, and where accountability is for our institutions to exact.