President Benigno Aquino, who campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption and patronage, is a key critic of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who was appointed by his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“The ombudsman’s less than stellar record in fulfilling the mandate of her office has caused dismay in a country seeking progress in the fight for accountability and against corruption,” Edwin Lacierda, the president’s spokesman, said in a statement.

“All citizens for good, transparent, accountable government can only welcome the Supreme Court’s removal of an obstacle to pursuing justice and honesty in public service.” Gutierrez has 15 days to appeal.

Opponents say Gutierrez, a close friend and law school classmate of Arroyo’s husband, did not properly investigate allegations of corruption against Arroyo and her administration.

Last year, supporters of Aquino in the lower house of Congress moved to impeach Gutierrez, who successfully challenged it in the Supreme Court.

If one-third of members of the House of Representatives vote to impeach, then it goes ahead. Gutierrez will face trial in the Senate and if found guilty, will be barred from public office.

Gutierrez has found herself caught in another controversy after she allowed a former military comptroller to enter into a plea bargain agreement to escape plunder charges.

Under the deal, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia was allowed to keep more than half of an estimated 303 million pesos ($6.9 million) worth of assets he amassed while handling the military’s finances and budget.

The two-chamber Congress launched separate inquiries into the plea bargain, which led to testimony of much wider and deeper corruption in the military.

Last week, General Angelo Reyes, a former military chief, shot himself dead on his mother’s grave before he was due to testify.