Merci is target of new graft charges on last day in office

(Updated 12:05 p.m.) On Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez's last day in office, two groups announced Friday that they will be filing graft and obstruction of justice charges against the outgoing official before the Department of Justice (DOJ). At a rally in front of the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) — complainants in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam — announced that they will be filing the graft and obstruction of justice charges before the DOJ on Monday. "Hindi siya makakatakas sa kanyang pag-reresign sapagkat ang kailangan po ay katarungan para sa magsasakang Pilipino (She won't be able to escape by resigning because we need justice for the Filipino farmers)," KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos told reporters. Ramos said the Ombudsman only filed cases against the "small fish," leaving out former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who allegedly used the P728-million fund for her campaign kitty in 2004. In March, the House of Representatives impeached Gutierrez after finding sufficient grounds that the Ombudsman betrayed public trust because of her supposed inaction on the fertilizer fund scam, among others. The Office of the Ombudsman later filed two graft indictments before the Sandiganbayan on April 7 against Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee, provincial accountant Raul Hernandez and provincial treasurer Ofelia Velasco for allegedly authorizing the purchase of overpriced liquid fertilizers from supplier Fenshan Philippines, Inc. Gutierrez then resigned from her office on April 29, or 10 days before her impeachment trial at the Senate was set to begin. Her resignation will take effect Friday (May 6). Her term would have ended in December 2012. She personally handed over her resignation letter to President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang on April 29. Still, senators warned that her resignation will not keep her safe from any charges that may filed against her in court. 'Initial offering' In fact, Ramos said that Monday's filing of charges will just be an "initial offering" against Gutierrez, whom they called "the protector" of Mrs. Arroyo. "Our next legal move will target triple platinum plundering group of ex-President Arroyo and members of the former ruling Arroyo gangland in Malacañang. They will face strings of charges which the farmers will file in appropriate courts. Still no mercy for Merci and GMA," he said. Aside from the fund scam issue, Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said his group is also planning to file criminal and administrative charges against Gutierrez for "neglecting and abandoning" the criminal cases they had filed against Mrs. Arroyo, which include a plunder complaint in connection with the purchase of P455-million ice-making machines by the Department of Agriculture. "The resignation of Ombudsman Gutierrez should not stop truth and justice seekers and the victims of injustice of the corrupt and brutal regime of Mrs. Arroyo from pursuing the truth and from claiming justice," he said. Ana Sanchez, who is in charge of media relations at the Office of the Ombudsman, told GMA News Online that Gutierrez will not be entertaining any interviews on Friday, saying that the official is busy with last-minute work. — RSJ, GMA News