‘5 House members to endorse Morales impeachment’

Five lawmakers have expressed willingness to endorse the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the House of Representatives.

This was the claim made by the lawyer of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), who said the five lawmakers will endorse the impeachment complaint when Congress resumes session on Nov. 13.

Lawyer Manuel Luna, however, did not identify the five lawmakers.

“We are very confident that we will get endorsements come Nov. 13,” Luna said in a news forum in Quezon City yesterday.

Luna said the complaint would tackle various issues against Morales, which include her alleged mishandling of the probe on the killing of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

Luna said the original case was for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injuries.

Morales, however, dismissed the case and instead charged former president Benigno Aquino III and other personalities with graft and usurpation of authority which Luna said have lighter penalties.

Another is the case involving former Metro Rail Transit 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III facing graft charges for an alleged anomalous contract for the maintenance of MRT 3 while exonerating other former officials including former Transportation secretary Manuel Roxas II.

Luna said the charges against Morales are culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and selective justice.

“The charges are serious, there are many grounds and the evidence is thick,” he said.

Another lawyer, Lorenzo Gadon, said Morales has been favoring Aquino and his allies.

“Morales is not fair and has been filing cases against Aquino’s enemies,” he said.

Asked why they are still pushing for Morales’ impeachment given the fact she is set to retire on July 2018, Luna said, “Her retirement or end of term is immaterial.”

“She wreaks havoc for the nation so every minute counts,” he said.