Ombudsman irked by Villa-Ignacio’s clenched fist at flag ceremony

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez lost her cool again Monday after seeing Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio making a clenched fist during the morning’s flag raising ceremony. An informant said Gutierrez summoned her lead prosecutor into a room and gave him a full dressing down. Reached by phone, Villa-Ignacio confirmed the incident. “Pinagalitan ako kasi bakit daw nagtaas ako ng clenched fist during the singing of ‘Bayan Ko’. I don’t know why she got angry, to me it was simply a patriotic gesture. It was such a meaningful song," the special prosecutor said. Aside from the clenched fist, Villa-Ignacio said he was also accosted for showing up Monday when he made no appearance on other days. “I explained to her that I try to attend when I can. On those days when I could not make it, I was on leave mostly for medical reasons and at other times, I have important official appointments to attend to. It seems strange that I get scolded for attending the flag ceremony and when I don’t show up, I also get reprimanded. It’s getting confusing," he said. Villa-Ignacio has accused Gutierrez of harassing him for his criticism of her policies in the handling of the more controversial cases before the Office of the Ombudsman. He questioned the Ombudsman for endorsing administrative complaints against him despite alleged lack of basis, including an estafa charge for donation money that went to the Gawad Kalinga Foundation. He has also blamed Gutierrez for the plummeting credibility of her office and the sharp decline of the agency’s conviction rate against erring government officials. Gutierrez went on attack against her critics last week after an impeachment complaint was filed against her before the House of Representatives alleging that she coddled respondents in big cases when those involved are close to the Arroyo administration. She chided former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman, saying the latter should concentrate on the colored highlights in her hair rather than painting political colors on the rulings of the Ombudsman. She also questioned the motive of former Senate President Jovito Salonga for leading the impeachment initiative and joked about his advanced age. - GMANews.TV