Palace: No pressure on Gutierrez deputy

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang maintained there was no pressure on the part of the Aquino administration for Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni to quit over numerous complaints against him filed before the Office of the President.

In a statement yesterday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Jalandoni’s decision to resign “is his own, based on his determination of the strength of the charges filed against him and his potential culpability.”

“Every public official has the freedom to choose whether to contest the charges or whether, for their own sake or that of the institution they serve, to relinquish their post. Nevertheless, what is important is that the processes were followed,” Lacierda said.

Jalandoni resigned on Friday, saying he appeared to be next in line among those who are being targeted by Malacañang for dismissal.

Jalandoni said the charges leveled against him were baseless.

But to spare the Office of the Ombudsman from further controversy, Jalandoni opted to tender his irrevocable resignation.

President Aquino had earlier dismissed Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III on the basis of what Malacañang described as the inordinate and unjustified delay in resolving the case against slain hostage taker Rolando Mendoza, who took hostage a busload of Hong Kong tourists in August last year, resulting in the death of eight tourists.

Gonzalez challenged the authority of the President over his dismissal and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez refused to implement the presidential dismissal order.