On last day in office, Merci keeps busy, avoids media

On her last day in office, outgoing Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez kept herself busy and avoided the media. Gutierrez, whose resignation takes effect on Friday, rejected any request from the media for a statement or an interview. The reporters were not allowed to enter the Ombudsman's office and cameramen were prohibited from taking footage of the employees moving stuff out of her office. Ana Sanchez, who is in charge of media relations at the Office of the Ombudsman, told GMA News Online that Gutierrez was busy with paperwork needed for the transition to the next administration. "(We're all) busy, it's also the last day of the other employees," she said, pertaining to the employees whose jobs are co-terminus with that of Gutierrez. Sanchez likewise said that the Ombudsman does not want to speak anymore about her resignation. "Everything has been said, we already did a tribute," she said. She disclosed, however, that the Ombudsman was also busy accepting "well-wishers," whom she did not identify. The First Friday Mass was held at the Office of the Ombudsman but Gutierrez reportedly did not attend it. In her farewell speech delivered last Wednesday, the outgoing Ombudsman asked her subordinates to support her replacement. Gutierrez resigned from her office on April 29, or 10 days before the Senate impeachment trial against her was set to begin. Her resignation will take effect Friday (May 6). Her term was supposed to end in December 2012. - VVP, GMA News