MALACA?ANG yesterday defended the right of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to speak in favor of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who faces an impeachment case in the House for alleged incompetence.

?The First Gentleman is a private individual, and therefore it would be within his right to take a position on matters of that nature,? Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

But he said Malaca?ang would distance itself from the impeachment case, which was filed by civil society groups led by former Senator Jovito Salonga on Monday.

Arroyo, who belonged to the same batch at the Ateneo Law School as Gutierrez, said earlier that those seeking her removal should leave her alone.

Gutierrez has lashed back at Salonga, saying the Presidential Commission on Good Government that he once led had lost many cases of ill-gotten wealth against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos because the evidence it produced were copies.

PCGG Commissioner Narciso Reyes said yesterday that he agreed with Gutierrez?s attack on Salonga.

?The law of evidence says that you must submit the original documents,? he said. Roy Pelovello and Florante S. Solmerin