Morales to pols accused of corruption: Stop crying harassment

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. INQUIRER PHOTO / JILSON SECKLER TIU

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Tuesday slammed politicians who cry political harassment every time they are charged for corruption by the anti-graft office.

In a statement, Morales said political harassment has become the “standard public relations defense” of public officials who were indicted by the Ombudsman for plunder, malversation and corruption.

“This will not stand in court, and the public is not gullible to believe their claim,” Morales said.

She maintained that the office is impartial and only based its indictment against public officials on evidence presented before the office.

“We decide only on the basis of evidence. After careful and objective evaluation of the evidence gathered, we immediately file cases, if warranted,” Morales said.

“We are oblivious of the timing of the filing of cases in courts, just as corrupt public officials steal public money every time an opportunity comes,” she added.

In the end, it is not the politicians who are harassed but the taxpayers whose taxes are pillaged by these politicians depriving the constituents of quality social services.

“Stop giving the public the impression that you are being politically persecuted. It is the other way around. Every peso lost to corruption means less free medicines for indigent patients in government hospitals and health centers, less textbooks and classrooms in public schools, and less food packs for victims of natural disasters,” Morales said.

The Ombudsman and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice said the office would not be deterred by threats from politicians who accuse the office of “selective justice.”

“Fighting corruption is a 24/7 job. We file plunder or graft cases as soon as we are done with a thorough and impartial investigation. The Office will not be deterred by propaganda and threats in doing our job. As I have said in the past, fighting corruption is the reason for my life,” Morales said.

Morales also expressed gratitude for the positive trust ratings on the Ombudsman in the Bilang Pilipino-Social Weather Stations (SWS) mobile survey conducted March 28.

Among the 1,200 validated voter respondents, more than half of respondents had “much trust” in the Ombudsman, giving the office a net trust rating of +49. The trust rating of the office was “very good” in Balance Luzon outside Metro Manila and Visayas (+50 to +69), while it was “good” everywhere else (+30 to +49).

Morales made the statement after Vice President Jejomar Binay cursed the office for going after his allies in the local level.

In his speech during a proclamation rally in Quezon province last Friday, Binay scored the Ombudsman for making it difficult for local officials to publicly declare their support to the opposition for fear that they might be suspended by the Ombudsman from office.

Binay said the Ombudsman is being used by the administration to target political foes while sparing administration allies. Morales was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III in 2011.

“Yun hong malungkot na pinagdadaanan namin noon na pinagdadaanan pa rin namin ngayon, itong bwisit na Ombudsman,” Binay said.

“Lalo na ngayon diba, buti yung matapang nagsilabas na, eh marami pa ring mga kasama natin sa local governemnt, hindi kakausapin ang kanilang kagustuhan sa pagsama sa kanilang kandidato eh dahil sa winawalang hiya, hanggang ngayon nagsususpindi pa,” Binay added.

(I lament what we have gone through before and are still going through today, this blight of an Ombudsman.

(Especially now, it’s good that at least the brave have come out, but there are still many of our allies in local government  who won’t talk about their desire to join their candidate, because they are harassed, until now there are still suspensions.)

READ: Binay lashes at Ombudsman for hitting opposition allies 

Among those charged and suspended by the Ombudsman were allies of the vice president.

Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia was indicted by the Ombudsman for graft over the anomalous procurement for the architectural and engineering design, and various civil and other works for the P425.6 million-Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

In 2006, Garcia as then governor resorted to the alternative method of procurement without public bidding, the Ombudsman said. Garcia is running for reelection as congresswoman under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in the coming polls. She is now on leave from UNA after her local party expressed support for Davao city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Gwen Garcia, 11 others face charges before Sandiganbayan 

Also, ousted Laguna governor ER Ejercito was charged before the Sandiganbayan for graft for entering into an allegedly anomalous insurance deal for tourists plying the Pagsanjan gorge when he was Pagsanjan mayor in 2008. He is seeking to reclaim the gubernatorial seat under UNA.

The Ombudsman prosecutors said the insurance deal was entered into without public bidding and that the insurance company was not licensed by the Insurance Commission to engage in the business.

READ: ER Ejercito, 8 others face graft raps over insurance deal

In 2014, Ejercito was ousted as Laguna governor by the Commission on Elections for overspending in his 2013 campaign.

Also charged by the Ombudsman was sacked Special Action Force (SAF) commander Getulio Napenas, who was indicted for usurpation of powers and graft for his alleged role in the bloody Mamasapano incident that claimed the lives of 44 elite cops. Napenas is running as senator under UNA.

READ: Ombudsman: Napeñas, Purisima liable for Mamasapano carnage

Binay had been critical of Morales after the Ombudsman indicted the vice president and his son dismissed Makati mayor Junjun for graft, malversation and falsification of public documents for the alleged rigging of the procurement for the design and construction of the allegedly overpriced P2.8 billion Makati car park building.

READ: Ombudsman finds probable cause to charge VP Binay with graft 

While the Ombudsman has yet to charge the vice president because he is immune from suit, it has charged Junjun before the Sandiganbayan for graft and falsification. CDG

READ: Junjun Binay charged with graft, document falsification over carpark building