Ombudsman asks critics to be fair

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez called on her critics to help her fight graft and corruption instead of throwing accusations against her.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Gutierrez said the Office of the Ombudsman will play a key role for the country to get millions of dollars in financial assistance from the US Millennium Challenge

Corp. next year.

“Most of the time they don’t know the facts,” she said.

“Even if we were able to meet the target set by MCC for the (Office of the) Ombudsman, there has been a problem in perception of our campaign against corruption because of some baseless criticisms.”

Gutierrez believes graft and corruption is one main reason why the MCC did not elevate the Philippines to compact status to qualify for

large-scale grants from US foreign assistance program.

“Once declared eligible, our country could get $60 million to $700 million in grants that would be used to fight graft and corruption and to empower governance in reducing poverty of people,” she said.

“So I’m urging everyone to just help us in fighting corruption.”

Gutierrez asked media to be responsible in reporting issues and cases being handled by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Starting next month, the anti-graft agency would have better ties with the media and begin regular news conferences every week, she added.

Next year, the Office of the Ombudsman also will intensify its campaign against identified corrupt systems in various government agencies, Gutierrez said.

Attacks on the integrity and independence of Gutierrez were highlighted last month when the robbery/extortion and graft charges against former justice secretary Hernando Perez were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan due to “inordinate delay in the preliminary investigation of Ombudsman” and a “defective case.”

The Philippines had hoped to be elevated to MCC compact status this year to be eligible for the MCC grant.

But in its report for fiscal year 2009 the MCC said the Philippines failed to score above the median in 14 out of 17 indicators used in determining if a country deserves the economic aid.

To be eligible for US assistance, developing countries must show their commitment to policies that promote political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, control of corruption, and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law by performing well on 17 different policy indicators.

Country performance in these policy areas is one of the key criteria the MCC board considers in its annual country selection process.

These indicators include control of corruption, fiscal policy, education and health expenditures and primary education.

The Philippines received failing grades in control of corruption (47 percent), health expenditures (19 percent) and primary education (32 percent) in the MCC report for 2009.

The report cited the continuing decline in the country’s “control of corruption” scorecard, which dropped progressively from 76 percent in fiscal year 2007 to 57 percent in 2008 and 47 percent in 2009.

Apart from the Philippines, the MCC said Jordan, Malawi, Moldova and Senegal also failed in its scorecard. However, these countries would still be able to continue the process of developing compacts in fiscal year 2009.

The MCC grant is a program of the US government to help reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth.

The MCC announced the selection of Indonesia, Colombia and Zambia as new countries eligible for funding.

Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over $6.3 billion with 18 countries.     — Edu Punay