Bishop Urges Ombudsman to Consider Resigning

MANILA, March 3, 2011— Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez should resign rather than be ousted, a Catholic bishop said.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said it would be good for the country if Gutierrez vacate her post.

“She should go down… there’s no point of staying. She is already a hindrance to the government’s fight against corruption because of her performance,” he said.

But Pabillo said the embattled Ombudsman can either resign or face the impeachment complaints filed against her in Congress.

“There are pros and cons to that. In the impeachment, for instance, it’s costly but there is accountability which is also good,” he said.

Pabillo chairs the National Secretariat for Social Action – Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

The prelate has also welcomed the decision of the House Committee on Justice this week in approving the impeachment raps against Gutierrez.

In the event that Gutierrez will have to be replaced, he said the government should appoint someone “credible” to fight corruption.

“...Someone not just because he or she is trusted by the administration but someone trusted by the people,” he said. (CBCPNews)