Ombudsman set to wrap up Mamasapano probe

MANILA, Philippines–Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales expects her office to wrap up its probe on the Jan. 25 bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, next month even as she cited an “urgent need to unearth the truth in the name of peace.”

Morales, this year’s recipient of the 16th Annual Peace Awards from Rotary International District 3830, told Rotarians on Thursday that the fall of 44 Philippine National Police Special Action Force commandos in the line of duty a month ago had sparked instantaneous reactions from various quarters suggesting a possible delay or even derailment of the ongoing peace process.

“This is truly a difficult time for the entire nation,” she said during her acceptance speech at the awarding ceremonies held at SMX in SM Aura, Taguig City.

Low-profile

Her office seeks to contribute to the search for the truth through the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices (Moleo). She said the Moleo has been conducting for the past 29 days its own fact-finding investigation “in a low-profile manner away from the limelight that focuses on the sometimes dimming atmosphere in other fora.”

“I expect to receive the Moleo report next month,” Morales said.

The Ombudsman’s main task is to promote integrity and efficiency and high ethical standards in public service through proactive approaches in graft prevention and public assistance, prompt investigation of complaints and aggressive prosecution of cases filed against erring public officials and employees. Morales vowed to continue waging war against corruption.

Major threat to peace

“Among other snags to attaining genuine and lasting accord, corruption is one of the major threats to stability and peace,” she said.

Quoting a study by the Transparency International Netherlands in 2014, she said corruption increases the risk of conflict and conflict increases the risk of corruption.

“The widely accepted proposition is that less corruption helps build a stronger pace. The most peaceful countries are often the least corrupt,” she said.

In accepting the Peace Award, Morales said she has observed that the distinction seemed to be bestowed each year to persons waging various wars, whether it be against a dictatorship, against environmental degradation or against poverty and other social inequities.

“I am honored to be included in the company of eminent Peace Awardees including two presidents, two Cabinet secretaries, two cardinals, two priests, two Red Cross officials, two lawmakers, among other proponents of peace,” she said.

The Rotary Peace awards was instituted by the Makati Clubs of then Rotary District 3810, spearheaded by Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo in 1999 to give recognition to persons who embody Rotary’s ideals of peace, fellowship and world understanding, whose actions and advocacies promote peace and international understanding through their selfless service to humanity.

The first recipient of this award was the late President Corazon Aquino in 1999. The others are: President Fidel V. Ramos (2000); the late Jaime Cardinal Sin (2001); the late Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Angelo Reyes and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal (2002); environmentalist and ABS-CBN Foundation president Gina Lopez (2003); the late Fr. James Reuter, SJ (2004); Philippine Red Cross governor Rosa Rosal (2005);

Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation founder Fr. Rocky Evangelista (2006); the late Pro Life-Philippines founder Sr. Pilar Versoza (2007); Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto (2008); Former Isabela Governor and Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca (2009); Philippine Red Cross Chair Dick Gordon (2012); Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles (2013); and the late Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo and Rep. Leni Robredo (2014).

The program aims to “ignite the sparks that will lead to consciousness and actions toward peace on a daily basis.”