Who’s Who in Bataan – Merceditas Navarro Gutierrez

MERCEDITAS NAVARRO-GUTIERREZ of Samal served as Ombudsman of the Philippines during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo starting on December 1, 2005. Prior to her appointment as the country’s top graftbuster, Atty. Gutierrez was the chief presidential legal adviser of President Arroyo.

Mrs. Gutierrez is the second of six children of former Bataan Vice Governor Rufino Navarro and Candelaria Consunji-Navarro. She was born in Barangay Lalawigan, Samal on September 24, 1949. She finished her Education course at the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila and completed a Law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1972. It was at the Ateneo where she became a classmate of Mike Arroyo, husband of President Gloria M. Arrroyo.

Merceditas Gutierrez joined the legal staff of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). It was the time when her father, Atty. Navarro, became very vocal against Martial Law. The NEDA job offered her the opportunity to study at the International Law and Development Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands.

When she returned to Manila in 1983, she applied for a job as state counsel at the Department of Justice. She worked her way up to the position of Undersecretary in 2001, and then acting Secretary of Justice from December 2003 to August 2004. She is considered an expert on international extradition of criminals.

On her role as Ombudsman, Ms. Gutierrez investigated more cases on corruption. In September 2006, however, she was criticized for her decision in absolving several officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Mega Pacific (the supplier of automated counting machines) who were charged with criminal and administrative liabilities in connection with the failed computerization of the 2004 national and local elections. The Supreme Court had already ruled that the transaction was an illegal contract.

In 2007, she ordered the suspension of Governor Enrique T. Garcia Jr. who was charged with alleged corrupt practices while in office. But the order was never implemented. She retained her post even after President Arroyo left Malacañang on June 30, 2010.

In late 2010, or during the administration of President Noynoy Aquino, Gutierrez was again criticized for allowing Major General Carlos Garcia (former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and charged with plunder) to enter into a Plea Bargaining Agreement with the Sandiganbayan. On March 22, 2011, the six Articles of Impeachment against her were approved by Congress: 210 Yes and 47 No.

Merceditas Gutierrez is married to Jesus Gutierrez of Malvar, Batangas with whom she has four children: Jesus Jr., Michael Thomas, Rufino Dino and Maria Margarita.