Ombudsman’s resignation was best option: mayor
April 30, 2011
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The unexpected resignation of now former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was the best option for her, said Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.
“I believe it is the best thing to do under the circumstances: for Ombudsman Gutierrez, the Congress and the country,” Rodriguez said in a text message to Sun.Star Pampanga.
Gutierrez’s resignation, he added, was also the best option for personalities who may be dragged on graft charges against her.
Rodriguez, also president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, is a known ally of the Aquino administration.
Resignation
Gutierrez resigned Friday, saying a protracted trial was not in the country’s best interests.
During a press conference at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, Gutierrez confirmed reports that she handed her resignation to President Benigno Aquino III earlier that day.
“By tendering my resignation effective May 6, 2011, I hope we can now all focus on the impelling problems of our people rather than expending so much time, effort, and resources to remove me from public office,” she said, reading from a prepared statement.
She said she had wanted to face the six articles of impeachment filed against her at the Senate, but decided to resign because “the interests of my family, my Office, and more importantly, the nation must always come before any personal considerations.”
Gutierrez said that with the Aquino administration approaching its first year in power, “the last thing the nation needs is for the House and the Senate to be embroiled in a drawn-out impeachment proceeding.”
The trial would distract Congress from its legislative work, she said, adding it would also distract her from her duties as Ombudsman.
However, the Ombudsman insisted that she did not shirk her duties, citing her unblemished record in almost 40 years of public service.
She added that her office “has consistently been voted the most trusted institution in the Philippines.”
Her lawyer, Tomas Syquia, said the defense had been confident of getting her acquitted but that national interest and “personal anguish” from criticism against Gutierrez made resignation a better option.
He said the Ombudsman did not want to add to the problems the country faces.
Gutierrez said she would turn over her responsibilities to Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro.
“[I] pray that we all give him our support,” she said.
She also said she was grateful to Arroyo for her appointment, she served only the public interest, “guided only by the Constitution, conscience, and honor.”
No compromise for resignation
In Malacañang, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday denied that a compromise was struck between his administration and Gutierrez that finally made her quit her post.
“There was no concession,” Aquino said, an hour after Gutierrez formally announced her resignation. (With Jonathan de Santos, Jill Beltran, Kathrina Alvarez, Virgil Lopez/ Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/04/29/ombudsmans-resignation-was-best-option-mayor-152758
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