Villarin doubts next Ombudsman will take pork barrel cases seriously

Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin doubts that the next Ombudsman would be “serious” in pursuing pork barrel scam cases.

The opposition lawmaker issued the remark after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said she would leave the work of pursuing other pork barrel scam cases to President Rodrigo Duterte’s appointee, as she is set to retire in about a month.

“Leaving her work in the Ombudsman on the pork barrel cases to an appointee of President Duterte would likely see it ‘go down the drain’ as the Duterte administration is not serious on pursuing them but rather everything is negotiable,” Villarin said in a statement.

In an interview over CNN Philippines, Carpio-Morales said: “I intended to finish it on or about the expiration of my term. Given the volume of cases that the office is handling, I am afraid we may not be able to finish all PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund] cases. There are several of them.”

“That was an expectation. Between now and July, why not. I really don’t know,” she added.

‘Our country needs her badly’

Villarin said, beyond her “tour of duty as our country’s no-nonsense Ombudsman,” Carpio-Morales “should continue her graft-busting legacy as an elected senator of the republic.”

“With a dearth of senatoriables who possess integrity, industry and independence, one who speaks her mind out without fear or favor, I sincerely believe in her and so do millions of Filipinos who will do their utmost to have her win. Our country needs her badly,” the lawmaker added.

However, Carpio-Morales had already brushed off any plan to enter politics after serving as the anti-graft chief for seven years.

READ: Run for office? Never, says Ombudsman Morales

Despite this, Villarin still hopes that Carpio-Morales is not closing the doors yet, sayingL “Citizens should make the clamor for her to run.”

Pressed about his “dream team” for the Senate in the coming 2019 mid-term elections, Villarin named Carpio-Morales and his so-called “young guns,” Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Barry Gutierrez, Erin Tañada, Chel Diokno and Senator Bam Aquino. /vvp