Aquino firm on deputy ombudsman’s dismissal

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday stood by the Palace’s decision to dismiss Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III in connection with the bus hostage incident in August last year.

The President, who was here for the PH-US Balikatan exercises, said Gonzalez was “within his rights” to petition the Supreme Court to stop his dismissal.

He said that Gonzalez’s action would “add to defining that provision of the Ombudsman Act.”

“We believe that the Ombudsman Act empowers us to carry out the same and the decision was well thought of, we went through the entire process and I subscribe to the findings of that whole process which necessitates his dismissal from service,” Mr. Aquino told reporters.