MILITANTS vowed to file formal criminal charges against former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez at the Department of Justice today in connection with her alleged inaction in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam that dragged the names of former government officials in the last election, including former president and now Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Led by Anakpawis party-list, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) are set to file today a criminal complaint for graft and obstruction of justice against Gutierrez.
Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said they would file the complaint at the DOJ at 11 a.m.
“The failure of Ombudsman Gutierrez to act promptly on the complaints is inexcusable… and constitutes violation of section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 and is tantamount to obstruction of justice,” read a draft of their complaint.
“Clearly, the respondent used the power and mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman to protect the respondents in these cases and to frustrate the ends of justice by not making them accountable for the well-documented and highly publicized fertilizer funds scam,” the groups alleged.
