Bello on graft issues: Somebody wants my seat

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. INQUIRER file photo

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is suspecting that somebody is orchestrating a smear campaign against him to remove him from office or prevent him from being considered as the next Ombudsman.

This development came after Bello and other officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) were recently accused of graft by Monalie Dizon, secretary general of the Kilusang Pagbabago National Movement for Change.

“Hindi ko nga alam kung anong plano nila dito [accusations]. Unang-una, siguro merong nag-iinteres sa pwesto ko,” Bello told Radyo Inquirer.

(I don’t know what their plan is on this accusations. FIrst of all, there could be someone  interested in my position.)

“Ang suspetsa ko, may gustong umalis sa akin dito,” he added.

(My suspicion is somebody wants me out of here.)

Aside from his alleged detractors, the labor secretary said the accusations could also be meant to discourage the Judicial Board Council (JBC) from consider him for the Ombudsman post.

READ: Bello to Duterte: ‘Make me Ombudsman’

“Siguro to prevent the JBC from considering me para ayun, maglalabas sila ng kung anu-ano,” Bello said.

“Baka takot ‘yung mga nasa gobyerno ngayon, o gustong pumasok sa gobyerno, natatakot na pagdating ko dyan no non-sense ‘yung ating trabaho. Baka sinisiguro nila na hindi ako mapunta d’yan,” he added.

(Maybe those who are in government, or want to be in the government, are afraid that when I assume the post [of Ombudsman], my work will be no non-sense. Maybe they are making sure that I won’t be given that post.) /jpv