Ombudsman hails dismissal of impeach complaint

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday the junking of an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez at the House of Representatives. Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said the junking showed that Gutierrez has not been remiss in her duties, and that she "diligently performs her functions." "We are happy that an absolute majority of the House Committee on Justice was able to see through the impeachment complaint filed against Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez," De Jesus said in a statement posted on the Ombudsman Web site. De Jesus applauded justice committee chairman Rep. Matias Defensor for being "fair and having political will" to proceed with the voting despite objections from the pro-impeachment congressmen. He also said the hearing showed the "independence" of the House of Representatives, which he said treated the impeachment complaint beyond politics. The complaint against Gutierrez, a law school batch mate of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, stemmed from allegations she sat on graft cases involving the First Family and their allies. - GMANews.TV