Ombudsman apologizes to Lanao Sur governor
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman has apologized to Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. for erroneously identifying him as the mayor of Ditsaan-Ramain, also in the same province, who was recently sacked for alleged abuse of authority, grave misconduct and oppression, a provincial official said on Friday.
“On Nov. 5, 2015, we have seen and heard over local and national media outlets that Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Bombit Alonto Adiong Jr. was one of those dismissed from office per order given by the Office of the Ombudsman,” Jennie Tamano, Lanao del Sur provincial information officer, told the Inquirer.
She said Adiong understood that the misidentification, which the media had quoted, was due to an error in a press release issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The mayor of Ditsaan-Ramain is Ali Untao Adiong, who was sacked for ordering the burning of a truck owned by a contractor of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative.
Positively identified
The Ombudsman said witnesses positively identified the mayor as the one who ordered the burning of the truck, owned by Jera General Construction.
Tamano said Adiong called the attention of the Ombudsman to the error, which was also published on the antigraft body’s website.
“We have just communicated with the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao and they extended their apology for the mistake,” Tamano said.
She said the Ombudsman promised to immediately correct the error in the press release.
The correction was already on the Ombudsman website when the Inquirer checked it about noon on Friday.
