Zubiri seeks dialogue with Ombudsman amid ARTA abolition calls

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is seeking a dialogue with Ombudsman Samuel Martires after the latter called for the abolition of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

Zubiri, author of the law that amended the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law and created the ARTA, said he wanted to explain that the EODB does not intend to encroach on the Ombudsman's function.

"When we created this law, there was no plan to encroach the powers and functions of the Ombudsman," Zubiri told reporters in an interview.

"We have the utmost respect over the Office of the Ombudsman. Kaibigan ko si Ombudsman Martires and ang gusto sana naming mangyari ay magkaroon po tayo ng dialogue as authors of the measure with the Office of the Ombudsman para naman malaman niya saan pinanggalingan itong ARTA of Ease of Doing Business Law," he added.

Zubiri explained that unlike the Ombudsman, the ARTA has no prosecutorial powers and its job is to initiate investigation and refer it to the anti-graft court.

"My personal opinion, if we repeal the law, if we abolish, repeal the law, it is 1,000 steps to the wrong direction. Pabaligtad tayo, ibig sabihin niyan hindi na po matatakot ang mga ahensya na sabihin sayo na ah bumalik ka na sa sunod na buwan, ayoko sa'yo, di ko type mukha mo bumalik ka sa susunod na buwan. Pwede nilang gawin yun, without a law they can do that," Zubiri said.

He likewise pointed out that EODB Law will help the country in attracting businesses, especially now that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is holding a roadshow to secure foreign direct investments.

At a Senate hearing earlier in the day, ARTA said it has no intention to encroach on the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman.

ARTA officer-in-charge Undersecretary Ernesto Perez said they had written to Samuel Martires to explain the concern.

In September, Martires said that his office will ask Congress to amend or abolish the ARTA law, saying it is an unconstitutional law that "usurps or encroaches upon the powers of the Ombudsman."

In May 2018, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which amended the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.—LDF, GMA News