Pelaez, Ombud face off

It started as a cordial handshake between two gentlemen.

Then things became nasty.

Visayas Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol flared up against businessman and candidate Efrain Pelaez Jr. who accused the official of foot dragging on cases he filed with the anti-graft office over the past six years.

“You’re destroying the Office of the Ombudsman. You’re destroying the trust and confidence of the people. Bakit ka ganyan? Huwag kang magsinungaling. (Why are you doing this? Don’t be a liar),” Apostol told Pelaez in a loud voice when the two met at the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas yesterday morning.

Apostol blew his top after learning that Pelaez had filed a complaint against him before the Office of the President for alleged inaction on several cases which the businessman filed since 1997 against Rep. Arturo Radaza and Mayor Paz Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City.

Pelaez, who is running for Lapu-Lapu city mayor for the second time, yesterday went to the anti-graft office to file a new case of plunder against the Radazas. This one reinforce his 1997 complaint about alleged ghost employees in Lapu-Lapu City.

Pelaez submitted a police laboratory analysis report to show that signatures on government payrolls were only made by a few people, indicating fraud. (See separate story.)

The businessman later dropped by Apostol’s office at the request of the deputy Ombudsman and news reporters.

Apostol told Pelaez that his cases had long been resolved by the Visayas office, with some still in Manila pending action.

“Thank you for finally acting on the cases,” replied Pelaez.

Apostol angrily responded: “Anong ‘finally acting on the cases’? Matagal na yang natapos. Sinong nag-utos sa iyo nga kasuhan ako?” (What do you mean ‘finally acting on the cases’? Those cases have long been resolved. Who ordered you to file a case against me?)

Apostol said he would sue Pelaez for damages for maligning his name.

Pelaez lamented that the Visayas Ombudsman’s Office was only able to identify one person as a ghost employee of the Clean and Green Project of Lapu-Lapu City in its investigation report in 2008. The woman was already dead but her name on a payroll showed that she continued to “receive” monthly payments for services.

“I have no trust and confidence in you,” Pelaez told the anti-graft official.

“You do what you do and I’ll do whatever I can to protect my being a whistleblower,” he added.

After the five-minute confrontation, Pelaez calmly walked out of the office, saying “I don’t want to waste my time.”

Apostol in turn shouted at Pelaez saying that he want to have another conference with the businessman.

Talking to reporters afterward, Apostol said Pelaez apparently “wants the Ombudsman to penalize all the respondents in all cases he filed with the office. Of course, we could not do that without any evidence.”

Apostol, who is set to retire next year, said he will file charges against Pelaez in his hometown in Ilo-Ilo.

“Hindi ko ma-tolerate yong maninira ka ng puri. Baka gusto lang niyang sumikat. Irresponsable ang tao na ito. (I don’t tolerate acts of besmirching my reputation. Maybe, Pelaez just wants to be popular. This man is irresponsible),” he said.