After ‘timely’ release of Binay graft resolution, Morales under public scrutiny
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. INQUIRER PHOTO
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has put herself under public scrutiny after the “timely” release of the resolution finding basis to criminally-charged Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The Office of the Ombudsman made public its resolution ordering the filing of graft raps against the Vice President, his son, suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay and others in connection with the overpriced Makati Parking Building.
Former University of the East (UE) Law Dean Amado Valdez, now President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools said “the timing definitely adds fuel to the question on VP Binay’s integrity, intended or not.”
The Binay camp said the Ombudsman should have just waited until his term ends since the case could not be filed.
The Ombudsman said Binay is not immune from investigation.
The resolution was released the same day the Vice President filed his certificate of candidacy for President.
READ: Binay, Honasan unfazed; file COCs amid corruption charges
“The Ombudsman put itself here under public scrutiny…The agency is bigger than any of the players in this drama,” said Valdez.
Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) President Vicente Joyas meanwhile said it appears that there is a concentration on the Binay cases.
“It seems that a timeline was set that the resolution be done before the filing of the certificate of candidacy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Joyas also accused Ombudsman Morales of “selective prosecution” because cases against administration allies gather dust in her office.
“I am just surprised why the other cases involving some Cabinet members and for plunder filed before the Binay cases are not investigated yet,” said Joyas.
“Selective prosecution is obvious and manifest,” said Joyas.
Among the unresolved cases involving administration allies were two complaints against Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.
While Abad is already being subjected to preliminary investigation over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program, he is facing a separate case in connection with the multi-billion-peso pork barrel fund scam. Named respondents along with Abad were President Benigno Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
The Department of Agriculture served as one of the implementing agencies of PDAF disbursing the funds to purported bogus NGOs.
Another plunder complaint was later filed against Alcala, in June 2014, for his involvement in a purported overpriced “midnight” rice importation deal from Vietnam. It was one of four plunder cases
against the agriculture secretary that remain pending with the Ombudsman. Tetch Torres-Tupas/TVJ
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