Aquino: I'm at war with Ombudsman Gutierrez

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday criticized, yet again, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in a speech delivered before student leaders, saying his administration is at war with the Ombudsman. At the 10th National Leaders Assembly of the Student Catholic Association of the Philippines (SCAP), Aquino reiterated that his administration is "at war" with the Ombudsman especially on the case of former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. “May bakbakan kami ngayon ng Ombudsman. Siguro isang case na lang ang pinakamaganda doon, 'yung kay Garcia," he said. (We are at odds with the Ombudsman. Perhaps the best case is the one against Garcia.) Garcia is facing a P303-million plunder complaint before the Sandiganbayan. He had entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman. Aquino said the special prosecutors claimed that there was no strong case against Garcia contrary to the stand of his administration and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. “Si Secretary De Lima sabi sa akin, ‘Ano pa ba ang ebidensiyang kailangan? Itong si General Garcia, nag-alok ng higit P120 million, isosoli raw sa gobyerno.’ In-accuse kasi siya na over P300 million ang kanyang pinlunder," Aquino said. (Secretary De Lima told me, What other evidence is needed? General Garcia himself offered to return over P120 million to the government. Garcia stands accused of plundering over P300 million.) Aquino said if the pending plea bargain gets approved, Garcia would be returning to the government not even half of what he allegedly took. “Isosoli niya hindi man kalahati nung sinasabing hindi sa kanya. Dapat ba tayong magpasalamat sa kanya? Dapat ba tayong magpasalamat do'n sa Ombusman na nakabawi tayo ng over P120 million?" the President asked. (Garcia offered to return not even half the amount of what does not belong to him. Should we thank him? Should we also thank the Ombudsman for recovering just over P120 million?) “Iiwan ko na ho sa inyo 'yan ano. Ikaw ba ninakawan, ibabalik sa iyo, 'di man kalahati — ang sagot mo ba doon, ‘Thank you?’" he added. (I leave that up to you. If someone robbed you and returns less than half of what he stole, would you reply, Thank you?) Aquino said the good news is that the House of Representatives had already approved the articles of impeachment against Gutierrez and sent the articles to the Senate for the trial proper. The Senate is set to convene as an Impeachment Court when session resumes on May 9. He said that the process would allow changes at the Office of the Ombudsman. "So, bottomline po, 'yung hinahabol nating pagbabago talaga naman pong nangyayari," Aquino said. (So, bottomline, our pursuit of government reforms is really happening.) In his previous speeches, the President had said that Gutierrez is a stumbling block in the efforts of his administration to reform government. – MRT/KBK/VS/HS, GMA News