Why is Ombudsman singling out Bato?
Aside from seeking the help of Malaysia in going after Abu Sayyaf bandits at its border with the Philippines, President Digong also invited Malaysian traders to invest in the country during his recent official visit.
The President’s request for border security was immediately granted because it would benefit both sides.
But there will be less enthusiasm, if any, among Malaysian investors who have yet to forget the raw deal their compatriot got years ago.
A Malaysian multimillionaire won fair and square in the public bidding for Manila Hotel.
But a Chinese-Filipino businessman who was a sore loser took the case to the Supreme Court which awarded it to him.
According to the high court, the Manila Hotel is part of the country’s cultural patrimony.
Now, why would foreign investors put their money in a country which does not protect their investments?
Well, that was then.
The Digong Duterte administration promises to protect foreign investors.
When Mano Digong read in this column that a Singaporean call center owner was fleeced by a Makati police official of P750,000, he immediately ordered the sacking of the policeman.
Chief Insp. Sherwin Cuntapay has since been transferred to Sulu.
“I’m having a hard time asking foreign investors to come to the country and this S.O.B. is driving them away,” said the President.
When Eastern Samar Judge Tarcelo Sabarre was in law school, he was probably asleep in class when the subject of search warrants was being taught.
It was Sabarre who issued the search warrant for policemen who went to the Leyte provincial jail to serve it on Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.
The policemen shot and killed Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, claiming the two were armed.
Any law student will tell you there is no need for a search warrant to look for firearms or bladed weapons inside a jail cell.
The Supreme Court has asked Sabarre to explain why he issued a search warrant for Espinosa who was a prisoner.
The high court should be unforgiving of judges who are expected to know the law.
He should be dismissed.
Government officials should learn from PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who went to Las Vegas to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas fight.
Bato is in hot water because he admitted that Pacquiao shouldered all of his and his family’s traveling expenses.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales is having the PNP chief investigated for accepting freebies.
There’s a law—Republic Act 6713—that prohibits public officials from soliciting or accepting any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person that would affect the functions of their office.
But why is Ombudsman Morales singling out Bato when there were other officials whose trips and accommodation in Las Vegas were also paid for by Pacquiao?
