Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is back from her Swiss sojourn and wasted no time defending her decision to absolve Comelec officials led by Chairman Benjamin Abalos from responsibility in the anomalous P1.3 billion poll automation contract with Mega Pacific.
Photo below was taken during yesterday’s press conference. Beside her is Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro who saw “no iota of evidence to show” that Comelec’s decision to award the contract to Mega Pacific “constitute manifest (sic) of partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
BY PETER TABINGO
OMBUDSMAN Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday broke her silence on her office’s decision to clear officials involved in the P1.3 billion Mega Pacific election automation project by chiding complainants for ignoring invitations to its public hearings.
“Kami po ay nagkaroon ng 12 pampublikong pagdinig sa kaso ng Comelec. Inimbitahan po namin ang mga complainants, mga testigo at ang lahat ng may interes sa kaso. Marami pong nakinig sa civil society groups, NGOs (non-government organizations) at iba pa. Subalit hindi po dumalo, aktibong nakilahok at nagsumite ng ebidensiya ang complainants sa 12 araw ng pagdinig,” she said in a press conference.
Among the complainants were Kilosbayan, Bantay Katarungan and Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Gutierrez said she is ready to face any challenge to the Ombudsman resolution before the Supreme Court.
“Mayroon bang sinabi ang Korte Suprema na may krimen na nagawa hinggil sa Mega Pacific contract? Wala po. Kung may krimen, sana ay pinakumpiska ng Korte Suprema ang counting machines bilang bunga ng krimen o proceeds of the crime,” she said.
Reacting to calls for her impeachment, the Ombudsman said she will deal with the issue when it gets to her doorstep.
“Hindi ko yan masasagot (impeachment). But hindi ko rin mapipigilan ang mga critics ko na gumawa ng hakbang laban sa akin,” she said.
Gutierrez shrugged off allegations that the questioned resolution was a favor extended to Malacañang and Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, her Ateneo Law School classmate.
Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Pateros-Taguig) has said that Gutierrez should resign.
“Kami po ay nakikiusap na sana ay huwag bahiran ng kulay pulitika ang aming desisyon. Ang Office of the Ombudsman ay isang independent institution. Walang kinalaman ang Malacañang sa amin. Matagal na ako sa gobyerno. Nagkaroon ba ng kaso na naimpluensiyahan ako ng isang kaklase? I have never been influenced,” Gutierrez said.
In a 52-page resolution on Monday last week, the anti-graft body reversed the June 23, 2005 resolution of graft investigators that recommended the filing of impeachment complaints against Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Commissioners Resurreccion Borra, Mehol Sadain and Florentino Tuason on the grounds of graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust. Commissioners Luzviminda Tancangco and Ralph Lantion were held liable for two counts of graft each.
The Supreme Court in January 2004 voided the contract for the supply of 1,991 counting machines, citing irregularities in the composition of the consortium and violations of the bidding rules.It said that in the automation contract, the government earmarked P1.3 billion, of which P850 million has been “irregularly” paid.
Eeeeeeeeeeeek!
Ellen, goodness, nakaka shock iyong babae sa picture!
This ogre should be sacked. Pronto! Isa pang walang ibubuga. Sisipsip lang!
Yuko said, “Isa pang walang ibubuga. ”
For a hundredth of a second there, I thought it said, “Isa pang bruha!”
Two witches from Malacanang! But goodness me, Ellen, if you wanted great visual effect, that picture of that woman is doing it – it’s as if she’s about to swallow somene alive for crossing sword with her… Hahahahah!
Pangit inside out, di ba?
Ellen: Wala na bang maganda-gandang pic si Ombuds girl diyan? Boring na, eh! Pareho na silang lahat na “pangit inside out”, di ba?
Ellen
My son saw a glimpse of Malditas on the screen and he exclaimed, “Who IS that?”
I told you, the pic has a shocking effect on anyone, adult or child! Hahahah!
endangered species na talaga mga matitinong gov. official natin, wala na, sa kangkungan na talaga tayo babagsak habang sila pa ring mga ungas ang nakaupo.
This is very interesting point raised by the ombudsman about the invited parties who either failed, refused or did not bother to testify at all during the hearing to investigate the issues regarding the Mega Pacific, comelec and the suspected criminal activities beyond the contract.
If those parties did not testify, how the Ombudsman came to the decision to absolve all parties of wrongdoing when in fact her investigation was incomplete??? She could have either not give any decision, turn the investigation into a criminal investigators, such as the NBI or the Police to compels and acquire the search warrants or she could have supboena the parties she said refused to appear before the investigation hearing, which will compel them to appear under the threat of contempt, or declare her investigation incomplete for lack of evidence from all interested parties.
With proper process, fair and no-holds-barred hearing, an Ombudsman decision is considered to be final, can not be questioned for want and unappealable. But in this case, she already becomes so defensive, aggressive, and very obviously tries to justify a decision that only the parties who get absolved from the liabilities, criminal or civil can agree with… and she calls herself an Ombudsman or Ombudswoman…
High noon showdown between Merciless Ombudsman and the Supreme Court. This will be interesting challenge and who got the real power, Mercy or Supreme Court. But, it ain’t going to happen, Glory Bee will make sure of it. Transparency they are not.
I have never been influenced, Merciless said. With such face she need all the help she can, if I were Mercy and what she got to offer, probably won’t be so bad afer all if get influence or proposition. Offer probably scarce the way thing are right now with her or as it is. Nevertheless, miracle do happen when you least expected it, I suppose, but with Mercy she’ll need lots, lots of miracles.
How in the world can Mercy defend the P1.3 billion poll automation? First, she should at least notice the voting machines bought and paid for, as reported and excused made by Abalos was, the voting machines were non-functional. Hence, the govt paid for a commodities that didn’t quite meet the expectation of the buyers, which is the govt in this case. So, it stand to reason with good business policy Mega Pacific Consortium should at least make the machines useable. For the govt to accept machines didn’t meet the minimum standard for it intended use is quite lunatic to say the least.
When you deal with illegitimate Gloria, truths are never on the table. This one will go away like the rest of the anomalies that has gone before us. We should’ve learned the hard lesson way before, and bringing this for talking point is at least good for laugh of how disorganized the system. I’s another case of glutton for punishment, I believe.
O di ba, magkamukha sila ni Mareng Mike. Mas brusko ang dating kaysa kay FG (foging gaga).
Malacanang ang naglagay key Merciditas na Ombudswoman, alangan namang kalabanin niya ito? Ang sabi niya walang pakialam sa kaniya ang Malacanang at hindi siya naiimpluwensiyahan ng asawa ni Gloria? SINO BA ANG MANINIWALA SA KANIYA? Tao siya at hindi siya mapupunta sa kinaroroonan niya kung hindi ke Gloria at Mike kaya huwag niyang sabihing independent siya. Ang amoy ng desisyon niya ay Gloriang-gloria at susunod ang amoy na ito kahit saan siya pumunta dahil sa desisyon niya. At ngayon ang amoy ay kakapit naman sa Supreme Court dahil alangan namang kalabanin nila si Merciditas.
Ang mga aso malakas ang pang-amoy. Ibig mong sabihin tutang aso si Malditas Glueiterez.
pandawan said: “SINO BA ANG MANINIWALA SA KANIYA?”
Sino pa? Di ang mga bingi’tbulag pati ang mga sip-sip buto.
Ellen says: “Pangit inside out, di ba?”
LOL!!!!
Natawa ako dun!:-)
YUng pix ni malditas says it all::::>
KAKAININ NG BUHAY ang sinumang lumaban sa kanyang sinabi!
Lekat talaga ang mag alipores ng lagim.
Saktong-sakto ang pagkakalagay ng bogus na presidente sa kaibigan ng kanyang fatso asawa! Mukhang mga BUWAYA!
>>>” malditas saw “no iota of evidence to show” that Comelec’s decision to award the contract to Mega Pacific “constitute manifest (sic) of partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
Opppps, hindi nadala ang iba…
BULAG pala itong si malditas…
Her eyeglasses must be obsolete and she probably needs an upgrade of her lenses….
Baka naman may brown-out pa sa kanila?
Just watchrd her in the news last night…ang “taray ng Lola” sa TV Patrol…as usual “wala daw silang maling ginawa..” at “pulos twist ng istorya at facts ang ginagawa”…Korte pa ang “sinisisi” sa “desisyon na ginawa niya”. Galing talaga ng mga hayop na ‘yan…grupo talaga ni “Tabang Lamig” mike arroyo, iisa ang mga “molde” sa kawalanghiayaan.
“Manang” Yuko said “dapat sibakin”…problema tayong mga “sawang-sawa” na sa kawalanghiyaan at katiwalian ni gloria at ng kaniyang grupo ay gusto siyang mawala sa puwesto…pero siyempre, gutierrez was put there for a “purpose”, and she’s serving it very well.
Ombudsbitch Gutierrez, the Merciless against small fish, will never displease her masters in the pigsty by the river.
Wala raw nagsubmit ng ebidensiya e puwede naman kunin nila ng kusa sa COMELEC, sa Senate, sa Supreme Court, o sa Ombudsman mismo. Malaking katangahan!
Wala naman daw sinabi ang Supreme Court na may krimen na nangyari, bakit kaya ipina-cancel ang kontrata? Malaking kabobohan!
Sana raw kinumpiska ng Supreme Court ang mga makina e kung hindi ba naman sira ang tuktok nitong animal na ito e ipinasasauli nga ng Korte at pinababawi ang perang ibinayad. Malaking kagagahan!
Babuyan na ang laban. Isa lang ang masasabi ko.
Tongue in, anew!
Kaya nga hindi masipa si Pandak kasi pati iyong mga guwardiya niya ngayon balita ko talaga Pampanga kundi pinili ni Fatso katulad noong pinsan niyang hepe ng PNP.
Korte Suprema ng Pilipinas walang magawa kasi sila din siguro ang nag-uutos kay Impakta II kung ano ang sasabihin at gagawin niya dahil mga amigo at amiga din niya at ni Fatso. Lahat halos ng mga tongressmen hawak din sa leeg at hindi makapalag dahil walang makukuha para sa mga billboards nila, sorry projects pala, kundi sila makikisama. Same with the Senatong. Ano iyan? Kahanga-hanga? Hindi karumal-dumal! Ang kakapal ng mga mukha!
My condolence to the people of the Philippines! Pero bilib ka rin sa mga pilipino. Ginugutom na hingi pa rin pumapalag. Magbebenta na lang daw ng kidney kundi makaalis ng Pilipinas bilang mga Super Atsoy/Atsay at Super Puta/Puto.
Tangna iyong mga dating promoter ng mga Super Puta/Puto dito na ang tawag ay Japayuki, gawaan ngayon ng mga requirement daw ng POEA at OWWA ng mga papeles kasabwat iyong Landbank at Metrobank na recommended ng DoLE na huhulugan nila ng surety bond bawat Super Atsoy/Atsay at Super Puta/Puto na ipapadala sa Japan.
I’m supplying the necessary documents to the authorities here as a matter of fact for stricter requirements para hindi magtagumpay ang mga bugaw calling themselves officials of the Philippine government sa balak nilang tambakan ang Japan ng mga Super Puta/Puto disguised even as Super Atsay/Atsoy!
ystakei,
Ang Sumigin Metro Investment Corporation ay joint venture ng Metrobank at Sumitomo Bank.
Noong 1997-98 ang Metrobank ay merong din joint venture sa Tokai Bank Limited na syang naging Globalbank.
Ellen ang galing mo naman mamintas ng pangit. Look who is talking. Talaga naman oo..
o, sumingit na naman ang kaluluwang gala! hitsura ni gutierrez na parang isa ring siga sigang asong alaga ng mag-asawang maligno ng malakanyang!
Jun said:
“Wala akong dapat ipagpasalamat sa inyo dahil nasasayang lang ang precious time ko sa pag posts dito”
elvira Sahara, meron namang maamong picture ‘yang si merciless gut-ierr-less, ‘yung para siyang kinakamot na baboy para makatulog.
Mrivera:
Muntik na akong malaglag sa upuan ko sa sinabi mo (‘yung para siyang kinakamot na baboy para makatulog)! Naalala ko tuloy ang paborito kong biik na inalagaan ko at kinakamutan ko ng tiyan para makatulog. Tapos nang lumaki ibinenta ng nanay ko! Ang iyak ko sa totoo lang. May kaluluwa rin kaya ang mga baboy? 😉
All the more reason, Nelbar, na ireport sa authorities dito sa Japan lalo pa ngayon na puedeng idemanda o kasuhan ang mga hapon na gumagawa ng kalokohan sa ibang bansa at ipinapahiya ang bansa dito mismo sa Japan. May batas kami tungkol diyan. Puedeng humingi ng tulong sa Interpol sa imbestigasyon sa totoo lang. Ewan ko lang kung effective ang Interpol diyan sa corrupt na bansang ang gobyerno ay parang Mafia headed by a sinungaling na magnanakaw pa!
ystakei, meron ding kaluluwa ang baboy na mukha ring baboy.
Mrivera,
“ystakei, meron ding kaluluwa ang baboy na mukha ring baboy.”
Ang bait mo naman!
Eh bakit si Fatso, walang “kaluluwa?” Puro nakaw, puro nakaw at puro nakaw pa ring hanggang maging baboy na siya samantalang sa labas lang ng Malacanang ang daming humihingi ng limos para lang kumain!
anna, kaya nga sinabi kong ang kaluluwa ng baboy ay mukha ding baboy kaya si fatso ang lahat kanyang binababoy. ayan tuloy nagkababoybaboy na ang pilipinas!
..dahil si fatso ang lahat binababoy.
In short, baka ang itawag nila sa Pilipinas balang araw, Babuyan Republic!
Naku Yuko, eh iyong Babuyan islands sa atin – hindi naman siguro sila pareho ni Fatso!
Kawawa naman iyong mga taga Babuyan, compare na naman natin dito kay Baboy sa Malacanang!
Yikes! The moment I saw the photo of Gutierrez, her face reminded me that this is the month we celebrate Halloween! Booh!
I think I have the perfect photo to hang on Halloween! Ha ha ha, no one will probably knock on my door and say “Trick or Treat” with Gutierrezes face posted on the door!
Chabeli:
Why don’t you try using the picture for the Halloween? Bagay na bagay. Get a picture of the bad witch in the Wizard of Oz, then change the face with the face of this witch (pronounced the German way)! You bet, matatakot iyong mga bata. Libre na ang mga candy and chocolates mo!!! Pero mas maganda iyong local witch. Iyong tikbalang na kalahati ang katawan! Palitan mo ng mukha ni Maldita Gutierrez! Yehey! 😡
Maraming baboy ang kapitbahay naming farmer dito. Makapili nga ng kamukha ni Ombudsgirl! Siguro ‘yung lola ng mga piglets na ipinanganak last month, puwede na kaya ‘yon? Kamukha ni Fatso? Ay naku, ang dami rin dito! Wala lang akong nakitang baboy na Punggok..kasi mga hybrid lahat dito!
“Wala lang akong nakitang baboy na Punggok..kasi mga hybrid lahat dito!”
Hakhahak!
Nelbar:
Tokai Bank is no longer existing. It merged with former Sanwa Bank, which merged with Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank. I know Sanwa Bank used to have connection with Alfonso Yuchengco. Anyway, if it is doing legal business there, then, there is no problem. Problem is when it is conniving to do hunky-punky over there.
Anna,
Just before I went to sleep (I’m going back to sleep shortly), I saw the breaking news on the helicopter that crashed into a high-rise apartment in Manhattan that is errily reminiscent of 9/11. At least, less casualty ito. Imagine what is going to happen when Kim makes true his threat. Heaven forbid!
Ystakei,
Ha ha ha, maybe I should try using the photo of Merceditas. Will be in the Philippines at that time…that should be funnnnn!
The Philippine Star (The Truth Shall Prevail) headline: July 1,2006 Saturday
Borra, five other Comelec execs liable in ‘Mega’ deal
Sayang Chabeli! There is no treat or trick in the Philippines, only bisita sa libingan! But you may try having a picture of the Maldita on your T-shirt, and then underneath you write, “Trick or Treat! Magkano ka ba talaga?”
Halloween? Do the Mormons believe and celebrate Hallooween?
Nelbar:
Tanong ko, ito bang si Borra asslicker ni Pandak? Kung hindi, makakasuhan nga siya di gaya ni Abalos na iyong maldita pa ang nag-absuwelto!
Why don’t they just scrap this useless COMELEC para matapos na ang paghihirap ng mga pilipino! Pero siyempre kailangan tanggal lahat ng political appointee ni Pandak kasama na siya!
Unless they are impeached and convicted, the Comelec, unfortunately cannot be scrapped.
The decent thing to do is if the officials feel that they no longer have the trust of the people, they should simply resign.
But as we all know, this form of political behaviour is unknown in the Philippine setting.
Speaking of baboy, alam mo Elvirra, over here mas gusto nila ang baboy na itim ang buhok kesa doon sa baboy na puti. Mas mahal kasi mas masarap. Dito ang masarap na baboy galing sa Okinawa.
O baka sabihin noong biik na nasa palace by the murky river, taga-Okinawa rin ang mga nuno niya! Ang hilig kasing maki-ride on!
Over here, Anna, when an agency proves to be useless and just a waste of public fund, it is scrapped and it calls for a revamp of the whole system without necessarily deviating from the provisions of the Constitution or existing laws.
Running the bureaus are practically left to the bureaucrats and the ministers are there simply as the provider of signatures and taking the responsibility for the people who elect them for except in rare cases, most of our ministers are serving members of the Diet.
In the Philippines, there seems to be a confusion regarding elected officials/political appointees versus the bureaucrats, who have more permanent positions entered into through some civil service examination.
Over here, when we talk of elected officials/political appointees, we mean those , who are elected by the people or appointed and supposed to be approved and confirmed by the people (a letter to the editor in fact can be enough ground over here of not getting confirmed for a government appointment as a matter of fact), and the bureaucrats are those who get to their positions through civil service examinations.
Likewise, over in the Philippines the people become the slaves of those who even steal their positions while over in Japan, those sitting in the government try hard in fact to abide by the principle that they are public servants paid with taxpayers’ money.
Is that hard to understand and adopt in the Philippines?
July 01,2006 Headlines
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Comelec official faces impeach rap
Anti-graft probers of ‘Mega’ deal cites Borra
http://news.inq7.net/archive_article/index.php?ver=1&index=1&story_id=7566
The Manila Times
Poll execs in Mega Pacific scam sued
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/july/01/yehey/top_stories/20060701top1.html
Yep! As I’ve said once, the Philippines still has a long way to go in terms of good governance.
To me, the major stumbling block achieving the first step in that direction was the non-completiong of the impeachment process against Estrada in 2001.
The breach of the Constitution in January 2001 set our country back instead of going forward. It was excacerbated by the Gloria-Garci affair in 2004.
I really think that unless Gloria submits herself to the due process of the Law, i.e., impeachment, or resign, there can be no progress in governance.
Of course, a government’s moral benchmark may only be gauged by society’s own reaction. If that reaction is nil or at best, divided, it will be difficult to assert due process of law.
Over here Anna, walang inaatupag ang mga Chinese kundi ang umasenso. Hindi pulitika o pakikialam sa ibang bansa ang gawain ng mga Chinese. Noong maliit ako mahilig akong manood ng Karate at Kung Fu films. Lampaso sa gulpi ang mga sakang sa kamay ng magagaling na Chinese Kung Fu Masters. Miss ko na si Bruce Lee.
Siyanga pala, balak ko pa noon na palitan ang pangalan ko ng Bruce. Para Bruce See.
Alam mo Artsee, believe din ako sa mga Chinese. Maraming Chinese dito na hindi man lang marunong magsalita ng Frances pero, in a couple of years, ang ASENSO nila dahil sa trabaho!
Walang racial discrimination dito against the Chinese dahil tahimik lang sila at gawa ng gawa.
Siguro kung ang lahat ng tao sa mundo ay atupagin lang ang buhay nila para umasenso, siguro walang giyera.
Alam mo Artsee, believe din ako sa mga Chinese. Maraming Chinese dito na hindi man lang marunong magsalita ng Frances pero, in a couple of years, ang ASENSO nila dahil sa trabaho!
Walang racial discrimination dito against the Chinese dahil tahimik lang sila at gawa ng gawa.
Siguro kung ang lahat ng tao sa mundo ay atupagin lang ang buhay nila para umasenso, siguro walang giyera.
I used to like Bruce Lee’s film pero prefer ko si Jack Chan – sabihin mo mang bakya ako pero fan niya ako. He’s such a great comedian!
anna, one thing not nice about jacky chan – he sometimes lose his humility when he is drunk. natatandaan mo nung minsang akyatin niya ang stage where a certain artist was having a show? lasing na lasing siya na inagaw ang microphone. but he’s really good in comedy and tops in CHARITY IN HIS SILENT WAY.
pero humingi din kaagad siya ng paumanhin the moment nawala ang kalasingan niya. a good sign of being a person of status.
Mrivera,
eh din mag Li Ka Shing kana!
Gerry Yang – Yahoo!
Stan Shih – Acer
At sino nga itong founder ng Creative Technology? Pati na yung sa Wang Computers?
isama mo na si Chen Kaige sa film industry…
Hanap pa ako ng Chinese Financial wizard 🙂
Hindi ko ma-remember iyon, Mrivera. Pero sa totoo lang, lahat ng films niya, napanood ko na (sa DVD). I discovered his movies noong nasa Malaysia kami where he seems to be very popular.
Jackie Chan is different from Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee was a truly trained Martial Artist. Jackie Chan started as an acrobat. He and his family were members of Chinese Opera Group. That’s where he learned his arcobat techniques and some Martial Art skills. Like Bruce Lee, Jet Li is also a very good fighter and performer. However, Jet Lee might have lost some of his power due to his celebrity status. To be able to remain as good martial artist, one should coninue the discipline. This is extremely difficult for movie stars like Jet Li. Back to Jackie, people like him because of his comedy style. Action-comedy type of films is usually people’s favorite. One thing I notice about his films is that it’s all decent. I still have to see one that’s vulgar in language and with sex scenes. That makes Jackie films wholesome for the family to see and enjoy.
Pareho naman komedyante sina Bruce Lee at Jack Chan. Kaya lang mas serioso si Bruce. Pero sa tutoo lang…pinakamagaling pa rin ang mga Chinese pagdating sa Martial Arts. Diyan gumaya si Marcos kaya nag-deklara siya ng Martial Law dahil may alam si Macoy ng Martial Arts. Palibhasa isang tunay na Tsinoy ang tatay niya. Chua ang apelyido.
I never claim to be an expert in anything; unlike some.
pitik bulag na lang kayong dalawa!