Merci faces criminal raps from govt execs – lawyer

Several government officials who claimed to have been victims of the Office of the Ombudsman’s “extortion" attempts are now ready to surface and press charges against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, now that she’s on her way out. Lawyer Stephen David, one of the private legal counsels supposed to be included in the prosecution team in Gutierrez's impeachment trial, told GMA News Online that some officials have sent him feelers about their desire to file criminal charges against her but were scared to do so because Gutierrez was still in power. “Pero ngayong wala na si Gutierrez, siguradong lalabas na uli iyang mga iyan... Hinihintay lang talaga nila umalis siya," David said, refusing to identify the individuals because some the officials are his clients and doing so would violate the lawyer-client confidentiality. Gutierrez's lawyer Tomas Syquia, meanwhile, admitted that a flurry of criminal charges would soon come Gutierrez's way once she leaves her post, and assured Gutierrez would be willing to face them. House justice committee chair Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. had said that Gutierrez’s resignation could save her from the Senate trial but not from possible criminal charges that would likely be filed against her. “Once her resignation takes effect, she is already considered a private citizen, so she will face any citizen who will charge her [in court]," Syquia told reporters at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, shortly after Gutierrez announced her resignation. Gutierrez personally tendered her resignation on Friday during a meeting in Malacañang with President Benigno Aquino III. Her resignation is effective May 6. Gutierrez, who was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005, said she was resigning "for her family and for national interest." Officials to testify on extortion As for the current and retired Ombudsman officials who were supposed to testify against Gutierrez at the impeachment trial, David admitted their role now would not be as big if the impeachment trial pushed through. “Kasi para sa impeachment lang kasi sila. Ang impeachment, about incompetence lang iyan at administrative kasi ang tina-tackle diyan, kung kailangan alisin ang opisyal o hindi. Since nag-resign na siya, moot and academic na," he said. However, David said the testimonies of the Ombudsman officials could still be put to good use and help investigators determine if Gutierrez had committed any acts punishable under the Revised Penal Code. “Kung lalabas na may na-extort siya or nahingan ng pera, puwede siyang kasuhan ng graft and corruption. Matindi 'yan," David said. Asked if the officials who had sent feelers succumbed to the extortion attempts, David said: “Some of them won in the case, while others lost. Iba-iba ang case, eh." Asked if Gutierrez was personally involved in the extortion, David said: “Eh, alam na alam naman iyan." Falsification, tampering charges mulled On top of possible extortion charges, David’s camp is also mulling to file charges of falsification and tampering against Gutierrez, in relation to cases where her signature was “illegally" affixed. Meanwhile, national labor center Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) has also urged the Aquino administration to file criminal charges against Gutierrez. “We challenge the Aquino administration: if Noynoy is sincere in his desire to wipe out corruption in the bureaucracy, he should then exhaust all possible measures to guarantee that Gutierrez is held criminally liable," said COURAGE National President Ferdinand Gaite. Gaite said Gutierrez’s resignation “smacks of escapism and self-preservation." “She is mistaken if she thinks that the people will just forgive and forget her crimes — she still has a lot to answer for," he added. — MRT/VS, GMA News