Dugaduga on Ombud investigation: He’s a friend and I believe in his advocacy

The Visayas Ombudsman will investigate Cebu City’s Public Information Office (PIO) chief for his alleged conflict of interest and unethical behaviour for promoting the Liberal Party candidate for mayor of Butuan City in his radio programs.

An official of the Ombudsman told reporters yesterday that the Ombudsman could conduct a motu proprio investigation or an investigation upon complaint of any person even by way of an anonymous letter.

The Ombudsman official said that the letter would serve as a lead in investigating Florito “Carlo” Dugaduga for promoting Butuan LP candidate for mayor, Ferdinand Amante.

Dugaduga’s reply

Dugaduga did not deny the allegations but said that he was only helping a friend and his friend’s advocacy for a clean government.

“Ug dautan man ugaling ang paglaban sa usa ka limpyo ug tarong nga adbokasiya alang sa pagpatunhay sa tarong nga pang gobyerno ug tarong nga lederato dan andam kong dawaton ang penalidad gikan sa mga honorableng hukmanan (If it is wrong to fight for a clean government, for better governance and good leadership then I would accept the penalty from the honorable court), Dugaduga said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

The letter-complaint accused Dugaduga as “feloniously, unlawfully, and shamelessly,” accepting employment as an “official barker: of Amante, the official LP candidate for mayor of Butuan City.

The complaint also claimed that Dugaduga received a P1,200,000 compensation for his work and for allegedly conducting caucuses in different barangays in Butuan City.

The letter also accused Dugaduga of using his radio program to promote Amante.

He said that Dugaduga’s radio program at Bombo Radyo Butuan started last January up to the present and airs from 5:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. from Mondays to Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.

The complainant said that Dugaduga undeniably violated the express prohibition against government officials and employees from actively participating in the promotion of the candidacy of any person.

The complainant hand-carried the letter-complaint to the Office Visayas Ombudsman.

He defended his remaining as an anonymous complainant for safety reasons.

“I am a taxpayer and resident of Butuan. City. I remain anonymous for my protection and that of my family and I compelled to file the instant case against Dugaduga because of my moral and civic obligation,” the complainant said in his letter.

Dugaduga, however, justified his support for LP candidate Amante.

“Ang reklamo nga gipadangat sa buhatan sa Ombudsman, pagpakauwaw lamang sa akong pagkatawo ug sa akong pagka opisyal sa gobyerno (The complaint submitted at the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman is to besmirch or make fun of my reputation as a person and as a government official),” he said.

“Una sa tanan, ako mitabang sa adbokasiya ni Mayor Amante dili lamang tungod kay siya usa ka su-od nga higala kon dili tungod sa iyang pagpaningkamot alang sa limpyo ug tarong nga pang gobyerno, walay kawat walay corruption ug dili mangayo ug kickback gikan sa mga negosyante (First of all, I helped in the advocacy of Mayor Amante, not because he’s a good friend but also because of his efforts to clean the governmen—where there will be no more stealing, no more corruption and no more kickbacks from businessmen),” he said.

“Ika duha, akong gisuportahan ang iyang adbokasiya alang sa pagpanalipod sa kinaiyahan. Wala man tingali balaud nga nag dili sa usa ka tawo sa paglaban sa usa ka matarung ug tul-id nga adbokasiya (And second, I support him because of his advocacy for the environment. There’s probably no law preventing a person to fight against a clean government and an advocacy that is right),” he said.

Cebu Daily News also tried yesterday to get Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s reaction on the complaint but he didn’t answer his phone.