Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) — Twenty-six congressmen signed a House Resolution expressing support for the constitutional independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.
It was filed following the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte last October 4 that he would file impeachment cases against Ombudsman Conchita-Carpio Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The resolution states the Office of the Ombudsman was created under the 1987 Constitution to “act as an independent body to serve as protectors of the people against the inept, abusive, and corrupt in government.”
It was signed by the following lawmakers:
Quezon City 3rd District Rep. Bolet Banal
Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo
Cebu City 1st District Rep. Raul del Mar
Bukidnon 1st District Rep. Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba
Capiz 1st District Rep. Emmanuel Billones
Dinagat Islands District Rep. Kaka Bag-ao
Quezon City 6th District Rep. Kit Belmonte
Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado
Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia
Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman
AKBAYAN Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin
Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Raul Daza
Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento
Zamboanga del Norte 3rd District Rep. Isagani Amatong
Quezon 2nd District Rep. Vicente Alcala
Occidental Mindoro District Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato
Zambales 2nd District Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla
Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjamin Agarao
Cavite 2nd District Rep. Strike Revilla
Bohol 1st District Rep. Rene Relampagos
Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong
Siquijor District Rep. Ramon Rocamora
Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun
Cavite 1st District Rep. Francis Gerald Abaya
Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
The resolution states the “framers of the Constitution intended that these independent bodies be insulated from political pressure to the extent that the absence of independence would result to the impairment of its core functions.”
Some groups have earlier said they will file an impeachment complaint against Morales this week.
Meanwhile, Sereno is currently facing an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives.
Asked why congressmen did not file a resolution of support for Sereno, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said there was no opportunity to prepare a resolution in support for Sereno and the independence of the Judiciary because an impeachment complaint was already filed.
Baguilat said they will express their position against Sereno’s impeachment through their vote on the impeachment case.
