Merceditas Gutierrez

{{Short description|Filipino government official}} {{Philippine name|Consunji|Navarro|Gutierrez|ph=married}} {{Use Philippine English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Merceditas Gutierrez | image = Merceditas Gutierrez in October 2025 (cropped).jpg | caption = Gutierrez in 2025 | order = | office = 4th Ombudsman of the Philippines | president = Gloria Macapagal Arroyo<br />Benigno Aquino III | predecessor = Simeon V. Marcelo | successor = Orlando C. Casimiro (acting) | term_start = December 1, 2005 | term_end = May 6, 2011 | order2 = | office2 = Secretary of Justice | president2 = Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | predecessor2 = Simeon Datumanong | successor2 = Raul M. Gonzalez | term_start2 = December 24, 2003 | term_end2 = August 31, 2004 | president3 = Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | predecessor3 = Hernando Perez | successor3 = Simeon Datumanong | term_start3 = November 27, 2002 | term_end3 = January 15, 2003 | birth_name = Ma. Merceditas Consunji Navarro | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|9|24}}{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} | birth_place = Samal, Bataan, Philippines | death_date = | death_place = | party = | relations = | children = | alma_mater = Ateneo School of Law | occupation = | profession = Lawyer | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Ma. Merceditas Consunji Navarro Gutierrez''' (born September 24, 1948{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}) is a Filipino government official who is currently serving as member of the board of trustees of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Following her graduation from the Ateneo de Manila University Law School in 1973, she established herself as a significant figure within the governmental sphere through key appointments. Aside from becoming a two-time Justice Secretary of the Philippine Justice Department, Gutierrez also became the first woman to head the post of Ombudsman. She assumed the position on December 1, 2005, and resigned from office on May 6, 2011.

==Early life== Merceditas Gutierrez was the second child of the former Vice-Governor and Representative of Bataan, Rufino Navarro Sr. and Candelaria Consunji. She was the second of five children and attended elementary and high school in the small town of Samal, Bataan. Gutierrez moved to Manila for College and graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University Law School in 1973, wherein she was a schoolmate of the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. She was initially unable to take the Bar exam due to her pregnancy with her first child, Johnny Gutierrez. However, upon taking the Bar the next year, Merceditas successfully passed her first attempt. Soon after, in 1983, she began engaging herself in government services. She became the Legal Officer of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC), then, Presidential Legal Officer of the Philippine Presidential Office. Her achievements in those government offices earned her a personal promotion by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines.<ref name="Bulletin">{{cite news |url=http://mb.com.ph/articles/202046/tender-mercy |title=Tender Mercy |author1=Mitch M. Arceo |author2=Pam Brooke A. Casin |author3=Ma. Glaiza Lee |author4=Jacky Lynne A. Oiga |author5=Czarina Nicole O. Ong |work=Manila Bulletin |date=April 11, 2009 |accessdate=March 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820205533/http://mb.com.ph/articles/202046/tender-mercy |archivedate=August 20, 2011}}</ref>

==Government career== ===Secretary of justice=== Gutierrez worked for the Department of Justice for almost two decades and was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Undersecretary of Justice in 2001. In the year 2002, Gutierrez was designated as the Acting Secretary for Secretary Hernando Perez then, Secretary Simeon Datumanong in 2004.<ref name="Bulletin"/>

===Ombudsman=== {{see also|Impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez}} left|thumb|Gutierrez's portrait as ombudsman On December 1, 2005, President Arroyo appointed Gutierrez to the post of Ombudsman, who is responsible for investigating erring government officials. Thus, she became the first woman to be appointed as ombudsman in Philippines.<ref name="Bulletin"/> In June 2007, she was elected as vice-president of the 22-member Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asianombudsman.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149&Itemid=122%E2%8C%A9%3Den&lang=en |title=Board of Directors |access-date=August 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707174155/http://asianombudsman.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149&Itemid=122%E2%8C%A9=en&lang=en |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a regional grouping which aims to improve multilateral cooperation among Asian countries in the fight against the social menace.{{Clarify|date=March 2011}}

In March 2009, former Senate President Jovito Salonga and civil society groups filed impeachment charges before the Philippine Congress against Gutierrez, alleging that she mishandled cases.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 5, 2009|title=Ex-Senate chief Salonga to speak at Ombudsman impeach proceedings|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/159886/news/nation/ex-senate-chief-salonga-to-speak-at-ombudsman-impeach-proceedings/|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=GMA News Online|language=en}}</ref> The complaint was later dismissed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/173423/news/nation/ombudsman-hails-dismissal-of-impeach-complaint/|title=Ombudsman hails dismissal of impeach complaint|website=GMA News Online|date=September 29, 2009 }}</ref>

On July 22, 2010, a new impeachment complaint was filed against Gutierrez by Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros, former Brigadier General Danilo Lim and Evelyn Pestano on the basis of "illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient" handling of cases.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://propinoy.net/2011/03/02/full-text-of-impeachment-complaint-against-ombudsman-merceditas-gutierrez/ |title=Full text of Impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez |work=ProPinoy Project |access-date=March 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724021645/http://propinoy.net/2011/03/02/full-text-of-impeachment-complaint-against-ombudsman-merceditas-gutierrez/ |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2010, another impeachment complaint was filed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan for inaction on the Fertilizer Fund scam, the Euro Generals scandal, and the Mega Pacific scandal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/197688/another-impeachment-complaint-filed-vs-ombudsman-gutierrez |title=Another impeachment complaint filed vs Ombudsman Gutierrez |first=Anita |last=Legaspi |work=GMA News |date=August 3, 2010 |accessdate=March 8, 2011}}</ref> The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on March 10, 2011, recommended the impeachment and resignation of Gutierrez as well as the firing of members of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for "neglecting, weakening and complicating" the plunder case against former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia and his family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/nation/03/10/11/blue-ribbon-gutierrez-resign|title=Blue Ribbon to Gutierrez: Resign|website=ABS-CBN News}}</ref>

On March 22, 2011, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Gutierrez on charges of betraying the public trust, with four representatives abstaining, 46 against, and 210 for the impeachment, thereby sending the impeachment to the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/215844/nation/house-impeaches-ombudsman-for-betrayal-of-public-trust |title=House impeaches Ombudsman for betrayal of public trust |work=GMA News|first=Andreo |last=Calonzo |date=March 22, 2011 |accessdate=March 22, 2011}}</ref> However, Gutierrez resigned on April 29,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/219073/nation/ombudsman-merci-resigns-10-days-before-senate-trial |title=Ombudsman Merci resigns, 10 days before Senate trial |work=GMA News Online |date=April 29, 2011 |access-date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> resulting in the cancelation of the impeachment trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/30/11/senate-shelves-ombudsmans-impeachment-trial |title=Senate shelves Ombudsman's impeachment trial |work=ABS-CBN News|date=April 30, 2011 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref>

===GSIS=== In April 2023, Gutierrez was appointed as member of the board of trustees of the Government Service Insurance System.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/merceditas-gutierrez-joins-government-service-insurance-system-board/ |title=Merceditas Gutierrez joins GSIS board |first=Bea |last=Cupin |website=Rappler |date=April 28, 2023 |access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref>

===NCSC=== On October 22, 2025, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Gutierrez as chair of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cabato |first1=Luisa |title=Palace appoints ex-Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez as new NCSC chair |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2128484/palace-appoints-ex-ombudsman-merceditas-gutierrez-as-new-ncsc-chair |accessdate=October 24, 2025 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> She assumed the role on November 4, 2025 taking over from Officer in Charge, Mary Jean Loreche.<ref>{{cite web |title=New NCSC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Gutierrez Commits to Serve Filipino Seniors with Heart and Integrity |url=https://www.ncsc.gov.ph/post/new-ncsc-chairperson-and-ceo-atty-gutierrez-commits-to-serve-filipino-seniors-with-heart-and-integr |website=National Commission of Senior Citizens |access-date=28 May 2026 |language=en |date=4 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mago |first1=Jason |title=Former Ombudsman Gutierrez named NCSC chair |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2025/10/21/former-ombudsman-gutierrez-named-ncsc-chair |access-date=28 May 2026 |work=Daily Tribune |date=22 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph/ Office of the Ombudsman - Official Website]

{{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before=Simeon V. Marcelo}} {{s-ttl|title=Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines |years=2005–2011}} {{s-aft|after=Orlando C. Casimiro<br><small>(acting)</small>}} |- {{s-bef|before=Simeon Datumanong}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of Justice|years=2003–2004}} {{s-aft|after=Raul M. Gonzalez}} |- {{s-bef|before=Hernando Perez}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of Justice|years=2002–2003}} {{s-aft|after=Simeon Datumanong}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gutierrez, Merceditas N.}} Category:Living people Category:Ombudsmen in the Philippines Category:Secretaries of justice of the Philippines Category:Impeached Filipino officials Category:Arroyo administration cabinet members Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni Category:1948 births Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers Category:20th-century Filipino women lawyers Category:Bongbong Marcos administration personnel Category:People from Bataan