Assistant Ombudsman: Merci not ‘at war’ with PNoy

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday denied that embattled Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was “at war" with President Benigno Aquino III. “If it were true that the President has declared ‘war’ against the Ombudsman, we would like to tell everyone that she (Gutierrez) does not and will never consider herself at war with the President," Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said in a text message to GMA News Online. Speaking at the 10th National Leaders Assembly of the Student Catholic Association of the Philippines on Monday, Aquino reiterated that his administration is “at war" with Gutierrez especially on the case of former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. Garcia is facing a P303-million, non-bailable plunder complaint before the Sandiganbayan, but he was able to walk free after entering into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman. De Jesus, however, said that the Ombudsman is one with Aquino in his fight against corruption in the government. “The Ombudsman shares and will always be with the President in his valiant fight against graft and corruption and will fervently pray to God that he succeeds in his lofty endeavors," he said. He likewise said that Gutierrez continues to be supportive of Aquino as “the father of the Filipino nation." “(She) believes that his great vision for our country and statesmanship will carry us through these hard times of high prices of many things like oil, transportation costs, commodities, etc., as well as unemployment and calamities," he said. The House of Representatives has 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. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News