Ombudsman scored for delay in decisions

BACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella slammed the Office of the Ombudsman for its long delayed decisions involving cases filed against local officials.

The two officials spoke before a crowd of 5,000 at the International Anti-Corruption Day celebration at Panaad Sports Stadium in Bacolod City held on Monday.

“Decisions need to be acted on so the innocent can be cleared and those with evidence of corruption can face charges,” the governor said.

Puentevella also urged the Ombudsman to resolve all pending cases against local officials, including himself.

But Evangeline Ganibe Nunal, chief of the public assistance and mediation and graft prevention office of the Office of the Ombudsman based in Iloilo province, said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has a zero backlog program.

“They may be surprised anytime this month. The cases they are asking to be resolved will be released because of the zero backlog policy of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Nunal said in reaction to the call of Puentevella and Marañon for action.

On the call for a probe on decisions made by former Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni by Puentevella, she said the Ombudsman’s central office has been acting on it and the media would be informed of its outcome.

The governor said the wealth of the nation has not been equitably distributed “because we are the 99th most corrupt country in the world.”

“There is no corrupt official if there is no corrupter. Corruption is a two-way thing,” he said.