Senator calls on Ombudsman to take indefinite leave

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday dared Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to go on indefinite leave amid the impeachment complaint filed against her at the House of Representatives. Pangilinan’s remark came after Gutierrez threatened to file perjury and falsification charges against her critics for calling her ouster over her alleged inaction on, and mishandling of high profile cases. Gutierrez denied the allegations. In a statement, Pangilinan said he made the call to ensure that Gutierrez’s “bullying tactics" will not be used to threaten her critics. "She should take an indefinite leave effective immediately," Pangilinan said. "The Ombudsman is only giving her critics even more ammunition by resorting to bullying tactics against her complainants. She should not be allowed to intimidate and threaten complainants using the power of her high office." GMANews.TV tried but failed to reach Gutierrez for comment. But she had earlier rejected calls for her to step down. During her press conference on Monday, Gutierrez said she had not "violated any legal, moral, or ethical principles that would call for my resignation or stepping down." She has also branded as “unfair" the calls for her to step down. "Magsalita sila kung wala kami talagang ginawaga. Hindi kami nagbabasura ng kaso, lahat ng kaso kahit anonymous complaint hindi kami basta-basta nagbabasura. Tinitignan muna namin 'yung evaluation," she said in an interview with GMA News. [It's not true that we're doing nothing. In fact, we do not dismiss any case even if it was based from an anonymous complaint.] Same script Pangilinan said that the Ombudsman and Malacañang seemed to be "reading from the same script" as regards to the impeachment complaint. "Malacañang says the Office of the Ombudsman should not be politicized; the Ombudsman says politics is behind this impeachment complaint. Malacañang says in this issue that we should respect our court processes; the Ombudsman says the courts and not Congress is the proper venue for these complaints. It is a terrible spectacle for justice and the rule of law when the Ombudsman and Malacañang appear to be reading from the same script," he said. He said the action only "reinforces the view that Malacañang and the Ombudsman are in cahoots to prevent the truth and the rule of law from prevailing." In this light, Pangilinan said Gutierrez should use the impeachment to clear her name. "We welcome the impeachment complaint as a means for the Ombudsman to explain the undue delay in so many cases brought before her office. The people deserve nothing less than transparency and accountability from their officials," Pangilinan said. A separate radio report, meanwhile, quoted Sen. Loren Legarda as saying that senators should not give comments on the ouster issue as they will serve as judges should the impeachment case prospers. - GMANews.TV