Cesar Montano's critics told to file case at Ombudsman

Employees of the Tourism Promotions Board who have complained to President Rodrigo Duterte's action center about the alleged corrupt behavior of agency head Cesar Montano have been told to file a case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

TPB management and staff this month sent a letter to the Presidential Action Center (PACE) alleging 24 irregularities Montano conducted while in office. These include employing friends and relatives and entering into questionable contracts worth millions.

The PACE is under the purview Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio “Jun” Evasco

“Duterte is asking complainants to file a case at the Ombudsman against Montano,” Evasco said in a text message to GMA News.

Montano, a staunch supporter of Duterte, has denied all allegations.

Evasco said that since PACE is not an investigating agency, his office still needs to create an anti-graft body to probe complaints against government workers filed at the action center.

"Any time we will be setting up an agency para bang anti-graft to investigate officials and personnel reported to PACE for corrupt practices. Mag-set up kami ng investigation unit para lang sa cases referred [to] PACE," he said.

Lawyers will do the investigation, Evasco said.

The President himself in an over two-hour press conference on Monday urged the complainants to file a case.

“If you have a grip and you think there is something there, file a case,” he said.

Duterte also said he had trust in Montano, but added he would not tolerate even just a “whiff of corruption” from people in his government. —JST, GMA News