Ombudsman says she won't resign from post

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Thursday insisted that she will not quit her post despite the Senate blue ribbon committee’s recommendation for her impeachment over the controversial plea bargain deal her office entered into with former military comptroller Carlos Garcia. Gutierrez explained that she only supported the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s findings on the Garcia case when she approved the plea bargain agreement, GMA News’ Chino Gaston said in a report over GMA News TV. The Ombudsman likewise reminded the senators that their job is to make laws and not to evaluate evidence. She, however, declined to further comment on the Senate panel report, since senators may sit as jurors if her impeachment case is approved at the House of Representative, the report said. Appointed in December 2005, Gutierrez's term will end in December 2012 unless she gets impeached by the House of Representatives and found guilty by the Senate.

Earlier in the day, the Senate blue ribbon committee said Gutierrez should be impeached for betraying public trust by entering into a plea bargaining agreement with Garcia, who is facing plunder charges. Just last Tuesday, the House justice committee voted to approve the impeachment case against Gutierrez for plenary discussions and voting, after its members found probable cause to impeach the official her alleged inaction in five high-profile cases. Aside from Gutierrez, the Senate panel is also recommending to President Benigno Aquino III the dismissal and filing of administrative and criminal charges against the prosecutors involved in the plea bargaining agreement, namely:

Special prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit;

Deputy special prosecutor Roberto Kallos;

Deputy special prosecutor Jesus Micael;

Assistant special prosecutor Jose Balmeo Jr., and

Assistant special prosecutor Joseph Capistrano. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News