FSGO eyes impeach move vs Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - Admitting she will never heed their call to resign over the World Bank mess, former government officials are considering impeachment proceedings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Former Civil Service Commission head Karina David, a member of the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO), said Tuesday this is despite an ongoing petition for Gutierrez's resignation. "Kay Ombudsman Gutierrez, ang tingin namin bagama't may ilan sa aming pumirma ng petition para sa kanyang resignation bilang FSGO mas nakikita naming mas tamang hakbang, tingin namin di magre-resign yan, tingin namin mas tamang legal na hakbang, mag-initiate ng impeachment [For Gutierrez, some of us already started a petition for her resignation. But considering she will never listen to it, we think the better legal option will be to initiate her impeachment]," David said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Some of us already signed the petition demanding Gutierrez's resignation but many of us already talking about the impeachment complaint, she added. However, she did not give a timetable on when the FSGO will file an impeachment complaint against Gutierrez, who she said could have done much more if she wanted to probe the mess. David questioned Gutierrez's failure to follow up on information given by the World Bank about irregularities in WB-backed infrastructure projects. If Gutierrez were serious in investigating the mess, why did she not write the WB and ask for the evidence it has? It's much simpler that way, she said. She also said the World Bank has no power over the Philippines as a country, and that its role is limited to "information sharing." "Ang may karapatang humabol kung may katiwaliang nangyari ang Office of the Ombudsman [Those who are mandated to run after wrongdoing in the country will be the Office of the Ombudsman]," she said. On the other hand, David said the FSGO has not decided on what action to take in the case of finance secretary Margarito Teves, who received a copy of the WB report in November 2007. "Kay Sec. Teves wala pa kaming maliwanag na stand sa resignation although matagal naming sinasabi na record ni Pangulong Arroyo, lalo sa corruption at di magandang pamumuno, tingin namin ang member ng gabinete magisip-isip din kung sila ay nakakatulong lamang sa pagpapahirap sa bayan, at tingnan din nila ang konsensya nila [For Teves, we have not made any call for his resignation although we have asked officials serving under this administration to rethink their options, given their boss' track record of corruption. If they think they are contributing to the hardships of the Filipino people, they should get out]," she said.- GMANews.TV