Advocacy group seeks removal of Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - Advocacy group Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) is mulling filing impeachment raps against Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez for alleged incompetence. Despite moves against former Justice Secretary Hernando "Nani" B. Perez, Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said she has not acted on other cases. Mr. Roque of the University of the Philippines School of Law is one of the CAC convenors. "She did not file anything against anyone except that of Nani Perez, which we believe will eventually be dismissed. She has to go and must show good faith in handling whatever case we will file against [her]." The Office of the Ombudsman filed on Friday criminal charges against Mr. Perez, including a $2-million extortion case filed by former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez for the hasty approval of the $470-million power contract awarded to Argentine firm Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (IMPSA) during the Ramos administration. - BusinessWorld