Ombudsman apologizes to Lanao del Sur gov for mistaken identity

DAVAO CITY – The Office of the Ombudsman has apologized to Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. for erroneously identifying him as the mayor of Ditsa-an Ramain, also in the same province, who was recently sacked for alleged abuse of authority, grave misconduct and oppression, a Lanao del Sur official said.

“On November 5, 2015, we have seen and heard over local and national media outlets that Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Bombit Alonto Adiong, Jr. was one of those dismissed from office per order given by the Office of the Ombudsman,” Jennie Tamano, Lanao del Sur provincial information officer, told the Inquirer.

She said Adiong understood that the error, which the media had quoted, “was based on the press release issued by the said office yesterday.”

The mayor of Ditsa-an Ramain is Ali Untao Adiong, who was sacked for ordering the burning of a truck owned by a contractor of the Lanao del Sur Electric Coop. The Ombudsman said witnesses had positively tagged the mayor as the one who ordered the burning of the truck owned by Jera General Construction.

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Tamano said Adiong called the attention of the Ombudsman on the error, which was also published on the anti-graft body’s website.

“We have just communicated with the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao and they extended their apology over the mistake,” Tamano said.

She said the Ombudsman had “promised to immediately make the necessary correction in their press release.”

The Ombudsman’s website had already reflected the correction around noontime Friday. CDG