MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez urged her critics yesterday to read the anti-graft agency’s decisions and resolutions on high-profile cases before hurling accusations against her and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Calling her detractors “purveyors of wrong information,” Gutierrez said those questioning the agency’s decisions should first study the rulings before making allegations of wrongdoing.
She even challenged former Civil Commission (CSC) chair Karina David to submit documents she might have in her possession to help the panel probing high-profile cases.
“David keeps telling the public that this so and so person should have been charged as well. Our office only decides on cases based on evidence and the law,” Gutierrez said.
“So if she thinks these people should be charged, and she has documents to back-up her claim, I encourage her to submit them to the panel investigating the case, so that they may be considered in its investigation,” she stressed.
Gutierrez issued the statement in reaction to David’s assertion that the former should resign from her post for being a “stumbling block” to President Aquino’s anti-corruption program.
“To me it is a disservice to the spirit if the law that created the Office of the Ombudsman to have the main anti-corruption agency run by somebody who has proven that not much has been accomplished over the past so many years,” David said, adding that she did not see any seriousness in Gutierrez’s performance.
The Ombudsman, nevertheless, reiterated that she will be privileged to sit down with President Aquino to discuss with him areas of cooperation in the present administration’s thrust to curb corruption in government.
Gutierrez said she intends to discuss with the President the Office of the Ombudsman’s accomplishments since she assumed the post, the status of pending high-profile cases and current efforts to stamp-out corruption in government.
She said such a meeting should not be construed as interference by the Executive department into the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman, but rather as a starting point for the convergence of all anti-corruption efforts in government.
“Personally, I will not take it as interference. We both have common goals, one of which is to eradicate corruption in the country. It has been my position that we in government should work in a systematic cadence so that we’ll be able to build a stronger force against corruption and form a powerful shield against the spread of this dreaded disease in the bureaucracy,” Gutierrez said.