Merci on ouster move: Dark politics rules

MANILA, Philippines – Beleaguered Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez cried foul, saying "dark politics ruled the day" when the House of Representatives voted 212-46 for her impeachment early Tuesday.

Gutierrez insisted on her innocence against the allegations where the Articles of Impeachment were based, namely, her inactions in the P728 million fertilizer fund scam, the Euro general case, the 2004 Mega Pacific deal, the NBN-ZTE deal, and the Philip Pestano case. It also cited the low conviction rate during her term in office.

"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 said in a press briefing few hours after the House ruled for her ouster in office.

She also expressed dismay over the recent ruling of the House Justice Committee is “hastening” the impeachment case against her.

“Even though I felt the proceedings were being railroaded in violation of my rights, I still gave the House of Representatives the benefit of the doubt that in the end, they would discard partisan politics,” she added. "But I was wrong."

She also denied of cuddling former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying, “That is not true because not everyone in the Office of the Ombudsman was appointed by the former President.”

Except for the NBN-ZTE deal, she said there was no other case that was filed against Arroyo.

She also dubbed the uproar against the plea bargaining agreement between the government and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia as a by-product of “trial by publicity”.

“Naunahan na kami dahil sunod-sunod na ang mga negative comments before we can say something about it,” she said, citing that their delayed statements on the matter were due to the gag order issued by the Supreme Court.

She believed that her Constitutional rights have been violated after several lawmakers pushed for the voting of the impeachment case, saying, “Nothing can show that I betrayed public trust.”

“Be that as it may, I am prepared to face the Senate sitting as an impeachment court,” she noted.

Early today, the Palace praised the House for approving without delay that Articles of Impeachment against Gutierrez.

“By doing so, the House has put an end to the long era of impunity that tarnished our institutions and made a mockery of the bedrock principle of accountability enshrined in our Constitution,” said President Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

“No one is above scrutiny and no one, particularly the brazen, can escape accountability,” he added.

He said the House now has the task to vigorously and effectively make its case to the combined juries of the Senate sitting as the Court of Impeachment.

“This is the glory of democracy: where the law applies to all, where scrutiny exempts no one, and where accountability is for our institutions to exact,” he pointed out.

The Makati Business Club likewise applauded the House for its resounding approval on the ouster of Gutierrez.

“Finally, the Filipino people will be able to exact accountability from a public official who has long frustrated the people’s desire for justice and unapologetically held on to her position despite her office’s indefensibly poor track record in prosecuting corrupt public officials,” the group said in a statement.

As the impeachment reached the Senate, the group urged the Impeachment Court to conduct the trial without delay.

“(May) the greater interest of the Filipino people and the restoration of their trust in our justice system remain uppermost in the minds of our senators as they consider the merits of the case against the Ombudsman,” it added. (With Dennis Carcamo)