MANILA - OMBUDSMAN Merceditas Gutierrez, who has been highly criticized for being too cozy and soft with the Arroyos, was one of the 36 applicants to the Supreme Court post to be vacated by retiring justice Leonardo Quisumbing.

Days after the nomination was submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), however, Gutierrez immediately withdrew her nomination for still unknown reasons, according to SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez.

With two more SC appointments left before President Arroyo steps down in office, Gutierrez apparently aimed to make it to the last train. Among those listed to be endorsing her to the post is El Shaddai leader and Arroyo’s spiritual adviser Bro. Mariano “Mike” Velarde.

Quisumbing retires on Nov. 6, followed by Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, who is scheduled to retire on Dec. 5.

The JBC, the body that vets nominees to the SC and other judicial posts, will publish the list of candidates on Oct. 21 for the Quisumbing vacancy. Public interviews of the nominees are scheduled on Nov. 4, 5, 6 and 9.

Also nominated to the SC is Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. who is on his third and last term as congressman. Retired justice Adolfo Azcuna endorsed his nomination.

Apparently, Locsin is on a job search. He has also been tapped in the United Opposition’s senatorial line up of former President Estrada. Estrada has announced he is contesting the presidency next year.

Gutierrez vs. Devenadera?

Gutierrez’s SC bid would have placed her in direct collision with Justice Secretary Agnes Devenadera, who has also been seeking the approval of the JBC for an SC post.

However, Devanadera’s bid has been hampered by a plunder case filed by former Ilocos Sur governor now Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” in connection with the Poro Point Special Economic and Free Fort Zone. Nominees with pending cases are excluded from consideration in the SC.

Devanadera has informed the JBC that Singson had withdrawn the case against her before Ombudsman. Sources within the JBC also told abs-cbnNEWS.com/ Newsbreak that President Arroyo has directed Gutierrez to issue the necessary clearance to Devanadera.

But for some reason, the Ombudsman has been taking its sweet time to issue the clearance.

Impeachment case
Recently, Gutierrez dodged an impeachment case filed against her by her critics for supposedly sitting on the cases filed against the President and those close to her.

The House justice committee last month dismissed the charges of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution filed against Gutierrez for her alleged failure to perform her duties and responsibilities.

These include failure to prosecute those involved in the P1.3-billion Mega-Pacific election-computerization scam, mishandling the $2-million extortion case against former justice secretary Hernando Perez, the still to be resolved P728-million fertilizer-fund scam, the P6.9-million “euro generals” case, and the multibillion-peso World Bank road-project collusion scheme, and arbitrary dismissal and suspension orders against local officials.

In the pending P728-million fertilizer scam, which was allegedly diverted to the campaign kitty of President arroyo’s allies in the 2004 national elections, a number of congressmen and local government officials were supposed to be liable for misuse of public funds.

Gutierrez is a law school batch mate of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Her appointment to the Ombudsman was seen by critics as an attempt to shield the First Family and its allies from criminal cases. – abs-cbnNEWS.com/ Newsbreak