CEGP pushes Ombudsman's resignation over E-Passport row

MANILA, Philippines - Campus editors and writers are demanding the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for her supposed failure to prosecute corrupt officials involved in high-profile graft cases. In its case, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) said Gutierrez failed to act on its complaint involving the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)'s E-Passport system. "She just sat down and failed to act on other corruption issues, although the cases are considered little unlike what we've mentioned before," he said in an article on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website. Alquizola said they had filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against some Department of Foreign Affairs officials on April 23, 2007 for alleged overpricing of the E-Passport project. He said the complaint stemmed from a CEGP investigative report showing the E-Passport Project was grossly overpriced and would waste P2 billion in taxpayers' money. But after two years, he said there was no concrete action on the part of Gutierrez. "We have filed the complaint in our capacity as concerned citizens and as youths being alarmed by such blatant corruption in government. It is an understatement to say that we are very disappointed with Ombudsman Gutierrez' performance," said Alquisola. He said the CEGP national office and its regional formations have already filed a "Very Respectful Motion for Leave to Intervene" before the Supreme Court. "Ombudsman Gutierrez obviously has other priorities and has, as a result of her neglect, exonerated certain government officials of graft and corruption. We give her an ultimatum: perform her duties, or do us a favor: resign from her office," he said. - GMANews.TV