By Macon Ramos Araneta

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has challenged her critics and detractors to come up with proof that she was protective of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who recently figured in controversies.

?Can you say anything about that, any evidence that would say that I favored the First Gentleman?? Gutierrez said, adding that in her more than three decades of public service? 23 years in the Department of Justice?she has established a good track record.

While she did not deny the fact that she and Mr. Arroyo were classmates at the Ateneo Law School, Gutierrez asked the public to dispel the perception she is biased toward the First Gentleman. ?Can you cite any case, or any instance that I favored friends or the First Gentleman in the course of my work??

The Ombudsman said that she inhibited herself from the multi-million peso national broadband network controversy where Mr. Arroyo was implicated. The panel that is looking into the controversy is expected to come out soon with its findings.

Gutierrez said the members of the panel are veterans in the Office of the Ombudsman. ?It?s a great insult to them to say that I influenced them in making their decision on the broadband case.?

?And yet, they?re still accusing me of a coverup?that the Ombudsman is not acting on the case due to the involvement of the First Gentleman,? lamented Gutierrez.

?I am exercising my independence and autonomy. Let me work. Do not undermine my effectiveness. The Office of the Ombudsman is not mine, it?s ours... our institution,? she said, adding that even Mr. Arroyo will not be spared when the Ombudsman looks into the World Bank controversy.

She described as ?unfair? the accusations hurled against her by lawyer Ernesto Francisco, who said the case on the World Bank controversy would be junked by the Office of the Ombudsman.

?We just don?t junk cases without any basis. We have an evaluation. That?s an unfair accusation. There are ways to investigate this despite the restrictions. They could have investigated this if the list of witnesses and their addresses were given,? Gutierrez said.

She lashed out at her detractors in the Makati Business Club for not doing anything to help the Office of the Ombudsman.

Led by businessman Jose Cuisia, also former governor of the central bank, the business club demanded that Gutierrez resign.

Gutierrez rejected their call and instead accused them of getting back at her for refusing to yield to their request for access to confidential records. ?But what have they done when they were in the government? Have they approached and told the Ombudsman that this should be done to address corruption??