Merci urged to take a leave

MANILA, Philippines - Militant group Bayan today called for Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to take a leave of absence as the Senate begins the trial for her impeachment.

"The hearings alone should require the undivided attention of the Ombudsman. She also faces several serious charges. She will also be asked to appear before the Senate. It would be best if she takes a leave of absence to focus on the trial," said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr., one of the impeachment complainants.

The trial will begin this May with the regular hearings starting 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 3 p.m. on Wednesdays.

"She is not required to take a leave but she should seriously consider it. We doubt she can focus on anything else other than her defense. Her job and office will be affected," Reyes said.

Reyes also called on Gutierrez to stop playing the victim and instead address the allegations against her.

"She claims she's the victim of dark politics. The real victims of dark politics are the Filipino people who were denied justice and accountability during the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Dark politics ruled everyday under GMA and Merci," Reyes said.

Bayan’s impeachment complaint was basis for the first three articles of impeachment which are: the Ombudsman’s inaction on the fertilizer fund scam, inaction on the Euro generals scandal and the whitewash of the anomalous Mega Pacific deal.

Gutierrez is also being accused of bungling the NBN-ZTE case, inaction on the case of Navy Ensign Philip Pestano and having a low conviction rate.

In her first appearance after the House overwhelmingly voted for her impeachment, Gutierrez maintained that her "conscience is clear," adding that she is confident that she will get a fair trial in the Senate.

"My conscience is clear. I have done nothing wrong," Gutierrez said.

She said that the plenary voting's result at the House was "lamentable, but expected."

“From the start, I received no fair treatment from the House Justice Committee, more so from its chairman, (Iloilo) Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., whose father is facing a graft charge filed by my office with the Sandiganbayan. He himself is being investigated for some allegations of corruption," she said.

Tupas had alleged that Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro offered to dismiss his father's case if the House justice committee would go slow on the impeachment proceedings.

The congressman said the offer was made during his meeting with Casimiro in September 2010 inside his office at the Batasan Pambansa Complex.