Ex-Ombudsman worker held over ‘grease’ money from cop

MANILA, Philippines –It was not the best way to mark 20 years of service in an antigraft agency.

A former employee of the Office of the Ombudsman was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly asking for P30,000 from a ranking police official in exchange for the release of documents required for the latter’s promotion.

The police came for Juan de la Cruz, 44, at his house in West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, to serve an arrest warrant issued by Judge Juvenal Bella of Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court–Branch 39.

De la Cruz was dismissed as an employee of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices in June in connection with a complaint filed by the police official.

The warrant was issued by the court hearing a case against De la Cruz for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713), said Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

The suspect also faces charges of direct bribery and violation of the antigraft law in another court.

Dela Cruz was eventually released Thursday afternoon after posting a P10,000 bail.

The cases stemmed from the complaint of Senior Supt. Pedro Ramos and SPO1 Jessie Caranto, who alleged that De la Cruz asked for P30,000 in exchange for a clearance required for Ramos’ promotion. The clearance is released by the agency free of charge, according to the charge sheet.

Ramos said Dela Cruz was introduced to him in March 2007 as someone who could help him with the papers he needed. This was after Ramos belatedly learned that he still had three complaints pending against him in the Ombudsman.

The police officer said he gave P20,000 to De la Cruz, half of it he borrowed from Caranto, at a restaurant on West Avenue.

Dela Cruz denied the charges, but the Office of the Ombudsman still dismissed him after 20 years in government service.