Marlon Juliano Manuel, a candidate for Ombudsman yesterday said the government should continue to press charges against resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and other erring government officials who had served under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Manuel, who spoke at a seminar-workshop on human rights promotion and protection at the session hall of Redemptorist Church in Bacolod City, for military and police personnel, and representatives of various civil society groups in Negros Occidental, said the prosecution and punishment of those who had offended the public and amassed ill-gotten wealth from public funds is part of ensuring that there is no impunity for erring government officials.

“Unless we secure the punishment of those who have erred in the past, we cannot deter future cases of corruption in the government,” he said.

Manuel is among the 27 individuals vying for the vacant position of Ombudsman.

The Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutional body that screens and recommends nominees to vacant judicial posts, set the public interview of all 27 candidates for Ombudsman on June 22 to 29.

President Benigno Aquino III said the new ombudsman must be “dedicated and courageous”.

Gutierrez decided to voluntarily vacate her post on May 6 after she was confronted with impeachment charges for her failure to act on cases lodged against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and husband Jose Miguel.*GPB

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