Ombudsman Martires files complaint vs. Edna Batacan over ‘parking fee’ claim

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has filed a complaint against lawyer Edna Batacan at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office over the latter’s claim of paying a “parking fee” in exchange for keeping a pending case dormant.

Martires charged Batacan for corruption of public officials and violation of the Ombudsman Act, based on the complaint-affidavit received on Tuesday.

Batacan raised the issue of a parking fee in the sum of P50,000 during her interview before the Judicial and Bar Council for her application as Ombudsman.

Batacan called the constitutional body a “graft-ridden” office, saying she had to shell out P50,000 thrice just to inquire on the status of her client’s case and keep it pending for preliminary investigation.

“I’m a victim also, I know for a fact how it operates. Inordinate delay is contrary to the speedy disposition of cases, they have such a thing as parking fee in that office, when the case is filed and it’s just under preliminary (investigation), they will say okay, I will just keep it on hold, for resolution, keep it on hold then you pay me parking fee,” she was quoted as saying then.

Martires said he summoned Batacan to the Office of the Ombudsman to clarify her claim, but the private lawyer failed to heed his call despite several attempts citing attorney-client privilege.

In July, Martires said he would demand from Batacan to identify the Ombudsman staff reportedly involved in the corruption scheme.

Batacan only sent a letter to Martires denying that she said these remarks during her JBC interview. She also said she is not covered by the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman.

However, Martires said the public admission of Batacan of paying Ombudsman staff constitutes corruption of public officials, while her unverified claim undermined the integrity of his office.

“The deliberate refusal of Atty. Batacan to cooperate with, and provide sufficient details to this Office impedes the proper exercise of its function to investigate the corruption committed by the officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman as she revealed during her JBC interview,” he said.

‘No jurisdiction’

Batacan said she has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but seemed to contradict herself when asked if she stands by with what she told the JBC.

"Siyempre standby ako sa sinabi ko, totoo naman talaga yun," Batacan said before attending a hearing at the Sandiganbayan.

She added Martires already received her explanation on the Ombudsman's lack of jurisdiction and was surprised at the charges against her.

"Rinequire niya ko na um-appear before yung low ranking na director, bakit ako a-apppear dun eh wala naman kayong jurisdiction sa akin?" Batacan said.

"Na-explain ko over the telephone, nag-usap kami, na-explain ko sa kanya tapos sabi niya may bisita raw siya, nagpaalam na siya, tapos nagulat ako nagdemanda na siya," she added. — RSJ, GMA News