Merci: I was treated unfairly as dark politics ruled the day

(Updated 4:30 p.m.) Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Tuesday lamented the House of Representatives’ approval of the articles of impeachment that will bring her to trial at the Senate, but said she will continue performing her duty. “I will continue to discharge my duty. It (trial) will not be a hindrance to doing my duty here," she said at a press briefing in Quezon City. “I’m optimistic that there will be a fair trial and of course they will follow the rules of the Senate in the proceedings." Unless she is convicted by the Senate, Gutierrez is to retire from her post in December next year. The briefing was held several hours after lawmakers virtually sent Gutierrez’s case to the Senate. She was impeached for alleged betrayal of public trust due to the low conviction rates during her term as Ombudsman and her supposed inaction on five high-profile cases. Gutierrez, at the briefing, said the development at the House was “lamentable but expected." “From the start, I received no fair treatment from the House Justice Committee, more so from its chairman, Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr., whose father is facing a graft charge filed by my office with the Sandiganbayan. He himself is being investigated for some allegations of corruption," Gutierrez said. She also said that even though she felt that the proceedings were being railroaded in violation of her rights, she still gave the chamber the benefit of the doubt. “I have always believed in the rule of law and I quite expected that members of the House of Representatives also share the same conviction." She added that she was “mistaken," and that “dark politics ruled the day." Gutierrez also said she is saddened that the impeachment was her “reward" for her 40 years in service. “Nakakalungkot na sa paglilingkod mo sa gobyerno nang pagkatagal-tagal at iningatan mo naman ang iyong pangalan at nagtrabaho ka naman nang husto ay magkakaroon ng ganitong pagsususpetsa at pag-aakala na wala namang base. Sasabihin mo, mabuti pang hindi ka na pumasok sa gobyerno at magkaroon ka ng ganitong reward. I feel very sad," she said. (In all my years in service in the government, I worked hard and did everything to protect my name. And then this is what I get: a baseless accusation. You’ll start regretting working for the government and being rewarded like this. I feel very sad.) She also denied that she is the “gatekeeper" of the Office of the Ombudsman, saying that she even reserves the right to inhibit if the need arises. “I don't know why they're saying that... the function of the Ombudsman is to receive complaints, to receive evidence. Our investigators and prosecutors who were not appointed by the former president will act accordingly," she said. Gutierrez, who is closely associated with former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, suspected “personal vendetta" played a part in her impeachment. She noted that among the lawmakers who supported her impeachment have cases filed at the Office of the Ombudsman. She said as the Ombudsman, she is in a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation. “Mahirap dito sa atin, 'pag nag-imbestiga ka, harassment. 'Pag di ka naman nag-imbestiga, delay and betrayal of trust (The problem is when you investigate someone, it’s harassment. If you didn’t, it’s delay or betrayal of public trust)," she said. Gutierrez also accused some lawmakers of grandstanding. — LBG/RSJ/KBK, GMA News