Ombudsman does not publicize probe result as matter of policy – official

The Office of the Ombudsman (File photo by NINO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Office of the Ombudsman does not make public the result of a fact-finding investigation as a matter of policy, regardless of who is the subject of a complaint, an official from the office explained.

“The result of a fact finding probe is contained in an investigation report which are internal documents,” the official, who refused to be identified for lack of authority to talk on the matter, said. “They are confidential.”

Earlier, Solicitor General Jose Calida said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales tried to keep from the public result of its investigation of the alleged undeclared wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But the official explained the procedures followed by the Office of the Ombudsman once a complaint is filed:

• A fact-finding proceeding is conducted to evaluate the complaint, as well as attached evidence, to determine if it will be dismissed outright for want of palpable merit.
• The complaint is referred to respondent for comment.
• The complaint is endorsed to the proper government office or agency which has jurisdiction over the case.
• The complaint is forwarded to the appropriate office or official for fact-finding investigation.
• The complaint is referred for administrative adjudication.

According to Calida, he learned that the Office of the Ombudsman had closed and terminated the evaluation of the complaint filed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV against Duterte, whom he accused of having unexplained wealth and undeclared bank accounts.

“Close and terminated means there is insufficiency of evidence to elevate the complaint to a preliminary investigation and/or administrative adjudication,” the same official said. /atm

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