Catholic educators back calls for Merci to resign

Claiming that corruption must be impeached "mercilessly," Catholic educators called for the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and threw their support behind moves to impeach the embattled official. "We urge Ombudsman Gutierrez to be truthful to herself and the people she swore to serve by facing the impeachment proceedings without evasion and consider her resignation as a moral choice," the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said in a statement Wednesday. "The blatant disregard of the Ombudsman in fulfilling her constitutional duty to prevent abuse of power in the government is a direct attack against the core values of public service. It is a breach of public trust," it added. At the same time, the CEAP also called for a speedy conduct of the impeachment proceedings as it said an "inept" official has no place in public service. "We, the members of CEAP, strongly call for a speedy, fair and decisive conduct of the impeachment proceedings. Corruption must be impeached mercilessly. We commit to continue efforts at transformative education, and to take a pro-active role in the formation of future leaders steeped in Christian faith, steadfast in moral convictions, transparent and accountable to the Filipino people," it said. The CEAP claims to be the largest educational association in the country with 1,290 member institutions. Gutierrez has insisted on staying in her post even if the House justice committee had voted to approve the impeachment case against her for plenary discussions and voting, after its members found probable cause to impeach the official her alleged inaction in five high-profile cases. On Thursday, 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. 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.

'Integrity, honesty, moral recovery' In supporting the impeachment move against Gutierrez, CEAP said the present impeachment complaint lodged against the Ombudsman "represents the unceasing and escalating clamor for truth and justice by the Filipino people" and is a "strong call for integrity, honesty and moral recovery." It urged the House to expedite the impeachment proceedings against Gutierrez so the Aquino administration can implement its anti-corruption campaign. Gutierrez had been accused of betrayal of public trust for “sleeping" on graft and corruption charges filed against former President Gloria Arroyo and her allies. On the other hand, the CEAP called on Congress not to "politicize" the judicial process,and asked citizens to press for the restoration of public trust in the Office of the Ombudsman. "We call on the members of the Congress to apply the full extent of the law and not politicize this judicial process. We call on engaged citizens to press for the restoration of public confidence and moral ascendancy in the Office of the Ombudsman," it said. "Paradoxically, the very Office of the Ombudsman, which was created to be the ‘watchdog’ of the people, has unfortunately been transformed into a major instrument in concealing the impropriety of corrupt government officials," it lamented. — RSJ, GMA News