Malacañang turns tail, says Merci can stay By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/14/2010

Malacañang turns tail, says Merci can stay

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/14/2010 Just a day after Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez held a press conference to defy Malacañang’s threats to remove her from office, including supporting an im-peachment move in the House of Representatives as stated by President Aqu-ino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda made a complete turnaround from his previous statements, now implying that the Palace would no longer endorse any charges against Gutierrez, adding the Palace would rather have members of the House make a move on Gutierrez. Yesterday, Gutierrez said she is standing her ground and she will not resign her position and stressed that it is only through impeachment that she can be removed. Gutierrez also pointed out that there is no ground at all to impeach her, saying that being “close to the Arroyos” is not a ground for impeachment. Lacierda tried to ascribe his volte face to his engaging members of the media last Friday, when he made the threats against Gutierrez, in an “academic discussion” given the fact that no specific moves were ever discussed by the new administration to oust the Ombudsman. “There is no decision on that matter (impeachment bid against Gutierrez) yet because we’re still shoring up the evidence to be gathered by the Truth Commission. So whoever will sit as Ombudsman—be it Gutierrez or whoever—the important thing if to have the solid appreciation for the evidences to be presented by the Truth Commission,” the Palace spokesman said. He said Malacañang does not have any intention to persecute Gutierrez or disrepute the Office of the Ombudsman which is a constitutionally mandated body that is independent from the command of the executive branch. Lacierda said the administration would rather reinforce the mandate of the Truth Commission, which is yet to exist, to gather “solid evidence” against those who are presumed responsible for unsolved corruption cases that happened during the term of former President Arroyo.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100714hed5.html

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