Press Release
March 4, 2009

Privilege Speech of Senator Mar Roxas: Impeachment
of Ombudsman Gutierrez

Some individuals have filed this impeachment complaint. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez responded by personally attacking the motives of Sen. Salonga, by personally attacking the persons who signed the impeachment complaint. Instead of answering point by point the allegations made in the impeachment complaint, the only response heard from Ombdusman Gutierrez as it relates to Sen. Salonga was that there were many cases filed in the PCGG, which Sen. Salonga one time headed, which were unresolved and that there were some papers missing during his incumbency.

Mr. President, is this all that she can say? The allegations in the impeachment complaint are very serious and yet her response is to attack the person and to attack the integrity of those who filed the complaint. Which bring us to today.

Today I quote from the banner story of today's Philippine Daily Inquirer. In reference to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Mike Arroyo, the First Gentleman says, and I quote: "She's just doing her job, just let her alone, leave her alone."(unquote)

For this statement, the First Gentleman consciously or unconsciously has himself indicted and confirmed the validity of the impeachment complaint against Merceditas Gutierrez.

What are the reasons why the First Gentleman himself has chosen to come to the succor of the Ombudsman in such a brazen and unrestrained manner? Personal ba ito o opisyal niyang tungkulin? Utos ba ito ng kanyang maybahay?

In what capacity, may I ask, did the First Gentleman make this statement asking the public to leave the Ombudsman alone? Did he make it as a private citizen? Or did he make it in behalf of his Office, for indeed, there is an Office of the First Gentleman in the Office of the President in Malacanang?

Or perhaps this statement was made in behalf of President Arroyo herself?

The First Gentleman goes on to say: "Let her do her job". By what standards is he now rendering judgment on the performance of the Ombudsman? If he is expressing satisfaction at the way she is doing her job, if this was so, then I vehemently protest.

No sir, the Ombudsman is not doing her job. In fact, my judgment is she has been a failure at her job. That is why early on I called for her resignation. Kaya walang makalusot-lusot na kaso laban sa mga alipores ng administrasyong Arroyo ay dahil isa mismo sa mga alipores na iyon ang nakaupo sa Office of the Ombudsman. Nag-iipon ng lumot at alikabok ang mga kaso nina Joc-joc, ng IMPSA, ng Mega-Pacific, ng NBN-ZTE, lahat nang ito, nakatambak lang sa opisina ni Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Mukhang iisa ang mensahe nito: Kung malapit ka kay Gloria, untouchable ka. Kung nasa poder ka, quesejodang hindi ka nagtatrabaho, walang magagawa ang taumbayan.

How did we get to this? Si Ka Jovy Salonga ang naghain ng impeachment complaint laban kay Merceditas Gutierrez. Si Ka Jovy Salonga ay isa sa mga pinakamarangal na taong kilala ko. Hindi matatawaran ang prinsipyo at ang isinakripisyo niya para sa taumbayan: hanggang ngayon may piraso ng bakal pa ring nakabaon sa katawan niya, matapos masabugan ng granada habang humihiyaw laban sa Batas Militar. Nanindigan siya laban sa US Bases dito mismo in the halls of this chamber in 1992.

Itaga mo sa bato: hindi mabibili ng sinuman si Ka Jovy. Hindi niya ibebenta ang taumbayan.

At ano naman ang sinasabi tungkol kay Ombudsman Gutierrez kung ang pinakamaliwanag na tanglaw ng karangalan at integridad sa gobyerno--kabilang sa hanay nina Cory at Ninoy, kabilang sa hanay ng aking yumaong ama--ay nagsampa ng impeachment laban sa kanya?

Pagtabihin natin ang dalawa. Ang isa, alipores ng pinakatiwaling gobyerno sa kasaysayan ng bansa, hinahayaang mabulok sa opisina niya ang mga kaso laban sa pamilyang Arroyo at sa mga alipores nito; ang isa, nanindigan, nasugatan, walumpu't walong taong-gulang na pero patuloy pa ring lumalaban para sa bayan.

Ang budhi ng isa, sing-itim ng isang madilim na balon kung saan nahuhulog at naglalaho ang kaban ng bayan, parang tiyan ng dambuhalang buwaya; ang budhi ng isa, walang bahid, nakasisilaw sa puti, sing-liwanag ng apoy ng pag-ibig para sa bayan, hinding-hindi mapupukaw, kailanman.

Mr. President, Kitang-kita na pinu-politika lamang ni Merceditas Gutierrezz ang impeachment complaint laban sa kanya. Sagutin niya ito, sagutin niya ang mga alegasyon dito. Mabibigat ang kaso na ito. Hawak niya, sinumpaang tungkulin niya ang labanan ang korapsyon dito sa ating bansa.

Kung ang Pilipinas ay nabibilang sa isa sa mga pinaka-korap dito sa mundo, ito ay bunga sa kapalpakan ni Ombdusman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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