Gutierrez quits but maintains innocence

CEBU, Philippines - Beleaguered Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez submitted her resignation letter to President Benigno Aquino III today, less than two weeks before the scheduled impeachment hearing against her at the Senate.

Gutierrez’s lawyer, Tomas Syquia, quoted the Ombudsman as saying in her letter: “I am resigning my office effective May 6. Even as a private citizen, I will still support the efforts of government in stamping out corruption.”

In a press conference hours after she submitted her resignation, Gutierrez said she personally handed her resignation to Aquino around 10:30 a.m.

She said Aquino, who had thrown strong words against her, was “graciously accommodating” and gave her kind words during their meeting. The Ombudsman’s resignation came 10 days before her impeachment trial at the Senate.

The impeachment trial against Gutierrez was set after a majority of House lawmakers pushed for her ouster based on six allegations, which include inaction in the P728 million fertilizer fund scam, the Euro general case, the 2004 Mega Pacific deal, the NBN-ZTE deal, the Philip Pestaño case, the low conviction rate during her term in office.

Gutierrez had insisted on her innocence, saying “My conscience is clear. I have done nothing wrong. I have done my job as the country’s Ombudsman to the best of my knowledge and capability.”

She also denied protecting former president Gloria Arroyo. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, head of the House justice committee, said the Gutierrez’s resignation cancels the Senate impeachment trial on May 9.

Tupas said that the resignation made the impeachment complaints against Gutierrez “moot and academic.”

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said in a television interview that there is no use pushing through with the impeachment trial since its primary purpose is to remove Gutierrez from office.

Meanwhile, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said he is open to occupying the position of Ombudsman although his primary plan is to finish his term as deputy ombudsman in the Visayas.

“My only intention is to finish my term as DO in Visayas but if I’m forced by circumstances and with recommendation coming from an organization and the call of my duty to serve the country and the people, I may accept it,” Apostol said. (FREEMAN)