Ombudsman Gutierrez dares critics to produce evidence

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Monday maintained her tough stance against her critics by daring them to produce evidence that she didn’t act on corruption cases involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Kung meron silang ebidensiya at mukhang siguradong-sigurado sila na may ebidensya at sinasabi nila na ako ay stumbling block . . . Present the evidence to the panel right now," Gutierrez said in an interview aired over QTV’s Balitanghali. (If they have evidence, and it seems that they have because they act like I’m really a stumbling block in [the] investigation, then present the evidence to the panel right now.)

Party-list group Akbayan is currently preparing a new impeachment complaint against Gutierrez whom they described as “the single biggest obstacle in the delivery of justice." Among the recent criticisms hurled against Gutierrez was the inclusion of former Agriculture secretary Luisito “Cito" Lorenzo Jr. on the list of the people being investigated regarding the P728-million fertilizer fund scam after he expressed readiness to testify in the case. She was also accused of protecting Arroyo and her husband, Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo, from the investigations. During the interview, Gutierrez, who was Mr. Arroyo’s batchmate at the Ateneo Law School, defended Lorenzo’s inclusion in the fertilizer fund scam investigation. “Bago pa man lumabas si Cito Lorenzo ay kasama na siya sa iimbestigahan (Even before Cito Lorenzo surfaced, he was already among those to be investigated)," she said. Lorenzo went to the United States in 2006 supposedly to avoid the Senate investigation on the fertilizer fund issue. He returned to the country recently. No communication with Arroyo couple Gutierrez appealed to her critics not to put her office in bad light. “Wag niyo namang pasamain ang Office of the Ombudsman sa mata ng ating mga kababayan. Mali ang sinasabi ninyo (Don’t put the Office of the Ombudsman in bad light especially when what you are saying is wrong). You are purveyors of wrong information," she said. Gutierrez said her supposed closeness with the Arroyos should not be taken against her, adding that she has no communication with the couple now. She also expressed readiness to face the impeachment complaint that will be filed against her. “Recycled criticism yan. Kung ano ang gusto nilang gawin (whatever they want to do) I’m ready to face the music," Gutierrez said. She also reiterated that she would not resign from her post. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV