Gervacio inhibits self from probe on Zuño

Acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio has inhibited himself from the investigation of a graft case against Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, one of his rivals for the position of chief government graft buster.

Gervacio said he will assign the case to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Primo Miro.

"I will only look into the matter," he said. "But to avoid any suspicion, I will inhibit myself from the investigation."

The graft case was filed against Zuño after he allegedly "influenced" the filing of a swindling case against one Joy Valenzuela Gutierrez by the Batangas Health Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Zuño’s physician-wife, Eden, was said to be a member of the cooperative’s board of directors.

Gutierrez was accused of defrauding the cooperative of "millions of pesos."

However, Zuño branded as "baseless" the charges against him, saying that he acted on the case of Gutierrez in accordance with the evidence submitted.

The case graft case against Zuño was filed by Aren Gutierrez, husband of the woman facing charges of swindling filed by the cooperative. – Jose Rodel Clapano