President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Merceditas Gutierrez as chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on November 4, but a senior citizens' group has petitioned against her installation. "Seniors on the Move" questions the speed of her appointment and her past record as an impeached official. They demand the withdrawal of her appointment and reopening of nominations under the law.
Merceditas Gutierrez recently resigned from her position at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) between October 14 and 15, and was immediately appointed as chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on November 4. This follows her controversial tenure at GSIS, where the agency stated she was not qualified at the time of her appointment in April 2023 due to a whistleblowing complaint. Gutierrez, former Ombudsman under ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was impeached in 2011 for alleged betrayal of public trust over inaction on corruption. She resigned before the impeachment trial began in the Senate.
Opposition stems from the group "Seniors on the Move," which launched a petition on change.org against her appointment. "Deserve ba ng mga senior citizens ang ganitong klaseng lider – isang na-impeach na opisyal na ‘di umano’y hindi ginampanan ang kanyang responsibilidad na labanan ang kurapsyon?" they asked, translating to: "Do senior citizens deserve this kind of leader – an official who had been impeached, and who allegedly did not do anything to fight corruption?" They urge the Office of the President to rescind the appointment, reopen the nomination process under Republic Act No. 11350 (National Senior Citizens Act), and call a general assembly of senior citizens' organizations to select a deserving leader.
Under RA 11350, the NCSC ensures the implementation of programs for senior citizens' health and well-being. Members must be Filipino citizens, at least 60 years old, of good moral character, bona fide members of senior citizens' associations, college degree holders or with relevant experience, of good health, not convicted of moral turpitude, and recommended by a general assembly. Rappler has reached out to Gutierrez for comment and will update the story upon response. It remains unclear if Marcos will heed the senior citizens' call.