MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez Tuesday described as “lamentable” and “flimsy” the decision of the House of Representatives to impeach her.

Gutierrez issued this comment hours after the Lower House impeached her on vote of 212-47-4.

“From the start, I received no fair treatment from the House Judiciary Committee, more so from its chair, Iloilo Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. whose father is facing graft charges filed by my office with the Sandiganbayan. He, himself, is being investigated for some allegations of corruption,” Gutierrez said in a press conference.

She said she is prepared to face the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

“My conscience is clear. I have done nothing wrong as I have done my job as the country's ombudsman to the best of my knowledge and capability and I will continue to do so with all those who continue to support my quest for truth and justice,” she said, adding that “in God's grace and time with impartial and independent Senate, I know we will, in the end, prevail.”

Gutierrez said she was wrong to give the full House the benefit of the doubt despite the railroading of the impeachment proceedings before the Committee on Justice in violation of her right to due process.

“I have always believed in the rule of law and quite expected that members of the House also share the same conviction. I had hope they would uphold the rule of law by not tolerating the acts that defeat it, but I was mistaken,” she said.

She said “dark” politics decided her impeachment, noting the undue haste the Committee on Justice conducted the deliberations in violation of his right.

“I had hope that our lawmakers in plenary would not allow such an injustice and vote in accordance with wisdom and good conscience rising above partisan politics, but I was mistaken," she said.

After a marathon session that lasted up to past 1 a.m. yesterday, a roll call vote registered 212 for and 47 against for the motion to adopt House Resolution 1089 and impeach Gutierrez.

Only four solons abstained. They were Reps. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Randolph Ting, Aline Vargas-Alfonso, and Mark Villar.

The document containing the Articles of Impeachment will be sent to the Senate today, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said.

The recommendation for the final composition of the 11-man panel of prosecutors composing of pro-impeachment congressmen will also be submitted within the week for approval by Belmonte.

Requesting anonymity, at least two key leaders of the House majority admitted that approval of impeachment was predicted but the overwhelming support was not expected until a few hours before the 4 p.m. session started Monday.

They cited a sudden decision of the leadership of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to go for impeachment as one of the two events that resulted in the pouring of support for Gutierrez’s ouster.

Sources said NPC founder, former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco sent his son, former Rep. Mark Cojuangco of Pangasinan, to voice out his wish for the NPC solons to support impeachment.

Party spokesman and Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian said the NPC took a “conscience vote” on the issue.

Senior NPC Reps. Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela and Mark Llandro Mendoza had previously led party members in the justice committee to question the move to oust Gutierrez without according her due process.

Divisiveness among members of the National Unity Party (NUP) composed of former Lakas-Kampi-CMD congressmen also bolstered the impeachment bid.

Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado reportedly led a “mutiny” against NUP executives who voted against the resolution.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, president and chairman, respectively of the newly-formed party, voted in the negative.

The party-list coalition also “revolted” against its leader, Alagad Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who stood by the alleged stand of the Iglesia Ni Cristo religious sect that was reported to have strongly lobbied to junk the impeachment case. (With a report from Charissa M. Luci)