Gutierrez back;chides critics
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is back from her Swiss sojourn and wasted no time defending her decision to absolve Comelec officials led by Chairman Benjamin Abalos from responsibility in the anomalous P1.3 billion poll automation contract with Mega Pacific.
Photo below was taken during yesterday’s press conference. Beside her is Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro who saw “no iota of evidence to show” that Comelec’s decision to award the contract to Mega Pacific “constitute manifest (sic) of partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
BY PETER TABINGO
OMBUDSMAN Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday broke her silence on her office’s decision to clear officials involved in the P1.3 billion Mega Pacific election automation project by chiding complainants for ignoring invitations to its public hearings.
“Kami po ay nagkaroon ng 12 pampublikong pagdinig sa kaso ng Comelec. Inimbitahan po namin ang mga complainants, mga testigo at ang lahat ng may interes sa kaso. Marami pong nakinig sa civil society groups, NGOs (non-government organizations) at iba pa. Subalit hindi po dumalo, aktibong nakilahok at nagsumite ng ebidensiya ang complainants sa 12 araw ng pagdinig,” she said in a press conference.
Among the complainants were Kilosbayan, Bantay Katarungan and Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Gutierrez said she is ready to face any challenge to the Ombudsman resolution before the Supreme Court.
“Mayroon bang sinabi ang Korte Suprema na may krimen na nagawa hinggil sa Mega Pacific contract? Wala po. Kung may krimen, sana ay pinakumpiska ng Korte Suprema ang counting machines bilang bunga ng krimen o proceeds of the crime,”,Replica Wallets; she said.
Reacting to calls for her impeachment, the Ombudsman said she will deal with the issue when it gets to her doorstep.
“Hindi ko yan masasagot (impeachment). But hindi ko rin mapipigilan ang mga critics ko na gumawa ng hakbang laban sa akin,” she said.
Gutierrez shrugged off allegations that the questioned resolution was a favor extended to Malaca?ang and Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo,Mulberry Handbags, her Ateneo Law School classmate.
Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Pateros-Taguig) has said that Gutierrez should resign.
“Kami po ay nakikiusap na sana ay huwag bahiran ng kulay pulitika ang aming desisyon. Ang Office of the Ombudsman ay isang independent institution. Walang kinalaman ang Malaca?ang sa amin. Matagal na ako sa gobyerno. Nagkaroon ba ng kaso na naimpluensiyahan ako ng isang kaklase? I have never been influenced,” Gutierrez said.
In a 52-page resolution on Monday last week, the anti-graft body reversed the June 23, 2005 resolution of graft investigators that recommended the filing of impeachment complaints against Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Commissioners Resurreccion Borra, Mehol Sadain and Florentino Tuason on the grounds of graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust. Commissioners Luzviminda Tancangco and Ralph Lantion were held liable for two counts of graft each.
The Supreme Court in January 2004 voided the contract for the supply of 1,991 counting machines,Replica Burberry, citing irregularities in the composition of the consortium and violations of the bidding rules.
It said that in the automation contract, the government earmarked P1.3 billion, of which P850 million has been “irregularly” paid.
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