Chief presidential legal counsel eyes Ombudsman post

Another Malacañang official is eyeing a new post outside the Palace after Presidential Management Staff chief Rigoberto Tiglao.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Merceditas Gutierrez has said she accepted the nomination to become the next Ombudsman to be able to contribute more to the government’s anti-corruption drive.

A demolition job against her, however, soon after began, mainly focused on her ties with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who was her classmate at the Ateneo Law School. Her supposed unsatisfactory performance as legal counsel was also a target for critics.

Gutierrez said she would no longer dignify the attacks against her, saying her integrity and credibility as government official should speak for her.

She noted she had expected opposition and criticism, but said she had served long enough in government to be ready for the responsibility of being the chief graft-buster.

Gutierrez briefly served as acting justice secretary before she was named as chief presidential legal counsel and later on as anti-corruption czar by President Arroyo. It was at the Department of Justice where she built her career in government.

Gutierrez denied lobbying for the post, saying she was nominated by retired Supreme Court justice Jose Vitug.

The Villaraza & Angangco Law Offices, otherwise dubbed "The Firm," is said to be pushing for a candidate while Sandiganbayan Justice Diosdado Peralta is being backed by Special Assistants to the President Carlos L. de Leon and Erlinda M.B. de Leon, according to sources.

Tiglao has been named ambassador to Greece although his new assignment has yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The search for the new Ombudsman, meanwhile, is on as the current one in the position, Simeon Marcelo resigned effective Nov. 30.

Aside from Gutierrez and Peralta, others vying for the position are former Davao del Sur congressman Douglas Cagas, former special prosecutor Gualberto dela Llana, Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez, Court of Appeals Justice Remedios Fernando, retired Sandiganbayan justice Nicodemo Ferrer, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio, Deputy Court Administrator Christopher Lock and Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio.

The names were submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council. — Aurea Calica