Ombudsman warns vs underestimating DOJ-led probe on gov't corruption

Ombudsman Samuel Martires welcomed the creation of a Department of Justice-led Task Force to probe corruption in the entire government, saying that President Rodrigo Duterte’s move should not be underestimated.

Martires noted that the DOJ has been a long-standing partner of the Ombudsman’s office in its drive against corruption.

The combined effort of both offices led to the filing of criminal charges against government officials over the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

Recently, the probe on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation fund mess led to Martires issuing preventive-suspension orders against top officials of the state-insurer.

“The directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Secretary Menardo Guevarra to investigate allegations of corruption in the government is most welcome. Secretary Guevarra is an intelligent and decent public servant who is well-respected by his peers and colleagues,” Martires said.

“Given this partnership, there is absolutely no basis to detract or underestimate the laudable objectives of the President in creating the DOJ mega task force,” Martires added.

He also said that the Ombudsman and the DOJ were part of the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council—a multi-agency partnership established in 1999 as a voluntary alliance of government agencies to formulate and develop concerted techniques and strategies in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of graft cases.

“In any case, investigations conducted by the DOJ involving complaints of corruption are subject to the evaluation of the Ombudsman,” Martires said.

Martires then assured the public that his office—an independent constitutional body—will continue to conduct in-depth parallel investigations as to alleged anomalies in the government “despite this Office’s limited manpower and the ongoing reorganization to strengthen the bureaus undertaking investigative functions.”

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate earlier said that nothing much could be expected on the DOJ-led probe.

After all, the President had cleared Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar of corruption, and had absolved National Capital Region Police Office chief Major General Debold of quarantine violations.

Zarate also argued that there was no need for such a task force given that such investigations were part of the Office of the Ombudsman's mandate.

“Is Malacañang saying that the Ombudsman is useless or is this anti-corruption drive just for show?” Zarate asked. — DVM, GMA News