The impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez took an interesting twist with one congressman voluntarily inhibiting himself from the deliberations on the case at the House justice committee.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Cavite said he is facing three cases before the Ombudsman.

Justice committee chairman Matias Defensor told a news forum yesterday that other congressmen with pending cases before the Ombudsman may or may not inhibit themselves from the case.

A copy of Barzaga?s March 3, 2009 letter addressed to House Speaker Prospero Nograles showed that the pending cases were filed between November 2006 and January 2007 when he was still mayor of Dasmari?as, Cavite.

?I feel that it would be for the best interest of the House of Representatives as well as the parties of the impeachment complaint and the public that I voluntarily inhibit myself,? Barzaga said.

Defensor said his committee will start its hearings on the impeachment complaint when Congress resumes session next month.

The Speaker of the House has 10 session days to transmit the complaint to the Rules committee upon his receipt of the complaint. The Rules committee then has three session days to refer it to the Justice committee, which is given 60 session days to act on the complaint.

The committee will decide whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance before lawmakers in a plenary session vote on the complaint?s form and substance. At least one-third of the House?s 238 members need to vote in favor of the complaint before it can be transmitted to the Senate.

But while the signatories to the impeachment complaint appear to be formidable, Defensor stressed that Gutierrez was legally equipped to deal with the complaint.

?This is a good case to look into. It could enrich our jurisprudence. If I can speculate I think this can be a very serious impeachment complaint,? said Defensor.

The impeachment complaint was filed March 2 by 31 complainants led by former Senate President Jovito Salonga. Macon Ramos Araneta