Gutierrez, who replaced former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo who quit his post last September for health reasons, described her new job as "tough" and appealed for everyone’s support. She took her oath before Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr. in Manila.
She conceded that her job as anti-corruption czar is not easy, considering that she will be investigating graft complaints against government employees from the lowliest position up to those holding top ranks in the bureaucracy.
Gutierrez reiterated her pledge to practice impartiality and independence in the performance of her new job, adding that she will not be pressured by anyone, including those in Malacañang, despite her reported closeness to President Arroyo.
Shortly after her oathtaking, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) and two congressmen — Marcelino Libanan and Isidro Real — yesterday challenged Gutierrez to be uncompromising in her job and make the government graft-free midway in her seven-year term.
Pimentel said the opposition is giving her the benefit of the doubt on her pledge to be uncompromising in going after big-time grafters and not to allow herself to be influenced by Malacañang in her decisions.
"While the opposition has reservations over the appointment of Gutierrez because of her closeness to the First Couple, it is banking on her assurance that she will be independent and fair in handling all graft cases regardless of who gets hurt," he said.
The former Senate President said how Gutierrez will handle pending graft and plunder cases involving high public officials, especially those who are part of, or identified with the Arroyo administration, will serve as the litmus test for her effectiveness and credibility in combating graft and corruption.
Libanan of Eastern Samar and Real of Zamboanga del Sur said that while they welcome the appointment of Gutierrez as the new top graft buster, she should prove her worth by intensifying the campaign against graft and corruption.
Libanan and Real said the elimination of graft remains the biggest challenge in pursuit of the good governance agenda of President Arroyo.
They said the first lady Ombudsman should deepen and widen the programs of her predecessor Simeon Marcelo who has been credited for his Lifestyle Check program.
Like Marcelo, Gutierrez should also heed the recommendations of Tony Kwok, former chairman of the Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, who collaborated on the fundamentals to make government less susceptible to corruption.
"We urge Ombudsman Gutierrez to redouble the government thrust against graft and corruption. For instance, she should seriously pursue lifestyle checks on government officials," Libanan said.
Meanwhile, Gutierrez bared her plan to hire 400 investigators and prosecutors to speed up the resolution of complaints filed before her agency.
Earlier, Gutierrez said her decisions on graft cases will depend on the evidence submitted or whether there is enough or insufficient basis to warrant the filing of a case before the Sandiganbayan.
Prior to her appointment as chief legal counsel, Gutierrez served as acting secretary of the Department of Justice from Nov. 2002-Jan. 2003 and again from Dec. 2003-Aug. 2004.
She had held the positions of DoJ undersecretary, assistant chief state counsel, senior state counsel, state counsel, and legal staff from Dec. 1983-Feb. 2001.
A native of Samal, Bataan, Gutierrez was also erstwhile chairwoman of the Presidential Human Rights Committee and Special Committee for the Protection of Children.
A law graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University in 1972, she obtained a postgraduate diploma in international law and development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands. (with reports from Edmer F. Panesa)
