Ombud sets record on dismissed execs

THE Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed 156 mayors and other highanking government officials in Mindanao for various questionable transactions. The number of cases resolved in 2015 was the highest recorded in Mindanao by the ombudsman’s office.

Of the dismissed officials, five were mayors, one was a regional director, and another was a deputy provincial treasurer, said the Deputy Ombudsman Rodolfo Elman.

Elman, in a report by the Philippine News Agency, also noted that violations of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act remain the top common criminal offenses with 97 cases followed by malversation with 71 cases, violations of the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials with 27 cases, and falsification with 25 cases.

The five mayors dismissed from service include Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno whose case is on appeal. Moreno was charged with grave abuse of authority over city hall’s controversial tax settlement with Ajinomoto Philippines. The Court of Appeals temporarily stopped the implementation of the ombudsman’s dismissal order because of Moreno’s appeal.

Another was a former mayor of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte who allegedly sold a vehicle at half a million pesos to a private person who, two months later, sold it to the municipality for P960,000.

Other mayors suspended were from Davao Oriental for abuse of authority in connection with a P2-million loan from his municipality’s project contractor, and the mayors of Ditsa-an Ramain, Lanao del Sur; and Matanao, Davao del Sur.

The ombudsman also dismissed from service the employees, including a regional director and director for operations of the Philippine Postal Corp. in their capacity as members of the Bids and Awards Committee. They were found to have awarded a contract of survey and title properties to an unqualified contractor. The regional director and director for operations were also found liable for paying the contractor in full despite non-delivery of the complete survey plans and certificates of title.

Also dismissed from service were the deputy provincial treasurer of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur and its municipal treasurer for incurring cash shortages in the General Fund, Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Fund, Special Education Fund, Trust Fund and the Third Elementary Education Program Trust Fund amounting to a total of P502,987.81.

Others dismissed officials for grave misconduct were 10 local executive officials of Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte that include two former municipal councilors, municipal health officer, municipal budget officer, municipal agriculturist, an engineer, two revenue collection officers and a barangay chairperson.

Meanwhile, Elman said 195 public officers were administratively sanctioned or recommended for sanction with penalties other than dismissal last year, which is more than two thirds that of 132 in 2014.

Records show that 25 respondents are for suspension of more than six months; 136 for suspension of six months and below; one for fine, and 33 for reprimand.

Also last year, there were 206 criminal cases recommended for filing of information against public officers, indicating an 146 increase from 2014 to 2015. Of these, 76 were recommended for filing of information before the Sandiganbayan, and 130 cases before the regular courts.