Ombudsman reacts to STAR story
This letter relates to the article titled “Ombudsman conviction rate dips; staff demoralized” (STAR News,
Our office generally welcomes media criticism, but we ask only that they be fair and objective. For media have an important role to play in a democracy, but such role is open to misuse.
The article of ABS-CBN News.com/Newsbreak’s Aries Rufo was rather harsh in picturing me, the Ombudsman, as a bad manager.
When you run an office, especially one that relates to the administration of justice, many times you must make decision even if they are unpopular, or even if they hit some highly-placed persons.
In our filing or dismissal of cases, in our issuances of preventive suspension, and in general in our investigatory, administrative and prosecutory efforts, we are guided only by the evidence before us, not by other considerations, such as the respondents’ popularity or lack of it, or public sentiment concerning the cases.
As in every office trying to do a good job, the distribution of powers within the Ombudsman is now and then re-aligned. This is to achieve efficiency within our limitations and to avert suspicions that in the Ombudsman itself, there might be corruption that may be brought, among others, by officials becoming too complacent with their powers.
Whenever it is suggested, without proof, that the Ombudsman is influenced by politics, a great disservice is done to the public because it makes the Ombudsman controversial and renders more difficult her duty to fight corruption.
Our conviction rate has dipped so far this year. As the popular saying goes, that is the bad news. The good news is that the office’s conviction rate, overall, has increased since I took over, as noted by the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program (MCATP).
Our Congress must increase our budget. The increase will enable us, among others, to hire more lawyers and train them in the proper skills and values needed to do the difficult work of the office.
Yes, we do have a veggie garden now. It is located at the back of the main office. It provides a good diversion to the high-pressure job of the office, and enables our personnel to take home very fresh produce that is good for their health.
It is also our humble contribution to the environment and we are proud of it.
It’s business as usual at the Office of the Ombudsman. If you visit us, ask the guard to let you see the garden, whose green abundance suggests God’s blessings.
Thank you for publishing this letter. — Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez, Ombudsman
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