THE issue on whether or not Justice Committee chairman Rep. Neil Tupas, Jr. should inhibit from the impeachment proceedings will be raised again after a pending graft charge filed against him was disclosed.
According to Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, Tupas is facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, which is a strong ground for him to inhibit from the hearing on the impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
Former Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico confirmed that he filed a graft case against Tupas in connection with “ghost seminars.”
In the previous hearing, Biron manifested that Tupas should inhibit himself from the impeachment proceedings because his father, former Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas, Sr. has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Despite repeated assurances from Tupas that he will be fair to Gutierrez and the complainants, his colleagues are apprehensive that the proceedings will not be impartial.
“Why did he not disclose to the committee that he himself has a pending case? That is essential because it would change the complexion of the entire proceedings,” Biron said.
Deputy minority leader Danilo Suarez said the minority bloc might raise this issue when the committee resumes its hearing.
The case against Tupas was filed on October 13, 2008 in connection with ghost seminars that allegedly took place between 2004 and 2007 when Tupas was a board member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Tupas denied there is a case filed against him.
“Walang complaint sa akin, as far as I know, except ’yung mga kalaban ko in 2007. Hindi ako required ng Ombudsman to answer. I am not aware of any case,” the solon said.
Jester Manalastas, Journal Online
Subject: Tupas pressed to inhibit 
Wed Sep 08, 2010 1:22 pm
