Ombudsman bets offer solutions to prevent ghost projects

As the government continues its investigation into anomalous flood control projects, applicants for Ombudsman on Monday offered solutions on how they can prevent irregularities if appointed to the position.

Recently retired Associate Justice Mario Lopez said during the third day of public interviews by the Judicial and Bar Council that the Ombudsman should strictly monitor the implementation of such projects through resident ombudsmen and other individuals

“Meron tayong mga resident ombudsman, meron tayong participation ng mga citizen. mga whistleblower. Let us gather all of them in this governance. There should be a mechanism to gather all of this,” Lopez told the JBC.

(We have resident ombudsmen, we have participation of citizens, whistleblowers. Let us gather all of them in this governance. There should be a mechanism to gather all of this.)

Under Administrative Order 10 dated 2001, the resident ombudsman was deputized as ombudsman investigators with authority to conduct fact-finding inquiries in matters falling within the functions of the Office of the Ombudsman.  

In September 2021, the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the Commission on Audit (COA) inked a memorandum of agreement that sought to revive the program.

Lopez stressed that though the office will be the lead agency, the Ombudsman must work with other agencies such as the Commission on Audit, the Civil Service Commission, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority. 

“The second phase, which is the implementation, dyan po tayo talaga titingin kung meron nga bang ginagawa, ito bang ginagawa ay in compliance with the TOR. Kung ‘yung mga opisyales natin at mga kawani natin ay tinitignan itong implementation, palagay ko hindi magkakaroon ng ghost project,” he said.

(The second phase, which is the implementation, that’s where we will really see if something is indeed being done, if what is being done complies with the TOR. If our officials and our personnel are monitoring this implementation, I think there will be no ghost project.)

The government is investigating alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vow in his last State of the Nation Address to ensure that those involved in anomalous contracts would be held accountable. 

The Ombudsman has also formed a special panel of prosecutors to investigate the alleged anomalies.

Aside from this, Lopez believes that lifestyle checks and Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) are tools to supervise irregularities among government officials.

However, Lopez said that lifestyle checks must still respect the privacy of the official. 

Meanwhile, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi said he will also push for the return of resident ombudsmen in key agencies such as those involved in revenue, healthcare, agriculture as well as “corruption-prone agencies.”

“You should be there at the DPWH and examining the papers within the ambit of the authorities being exercised by the district engineers, per transaction ‘yan,” he said in an interview with the media.

The associate justice said that the Ombudsman must also collaborate with the DOJ, COA, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Musngi stressed the importance of a “pro-active watchdog.”

“Hindi lang ‘yung meron nang anomalya at nalustay na ‘yung pera. Pero ‘yung bantay sa pag lustay ng pera importante,” he said.

(Not only when there is already an anomaly and the money has been squandered. But the monitoring to prevent the squandering of money is important.)

Aside from this, Musngi said that though he agrees with lifestyle checks, he did not want “fishing expeditions.”

“Ang importanteng malaman natin, i-stress, hindi bawal ang maging mayaman sa Pilipinas. Ang bawal ay ‘yung mag kamal ng kayamanan gamit ang iyong position o abusuhin ang iyong impluwensya para benefit sa sarili mo,” he said.

(The important thing we need to know, to stress, is that it is not forbidden to be rich in the Philippines. What is forbidden is amassing wealth using your position or abusing your influence for your own benefit.)

He also stressed that lifestyle checks are also “after the fact,” but what is important is prevention.

Meanwhile, former PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag said that if he was appointed to the post, he would investigate the flood control projects.

“Ang una-una natin siguro nating tatanungin is the Department of Public Works and Highways dahil sa kanila nag originate ‘yung projects. And the business will always be the evidence,” he said.

(The very first we should probably ask is the Department of Public Works and Highways because the projects originated from them. And the business will always be the evidence.)

He said he will also tap other government agencies such as the COA, DOJ, CSC, ARTA as well as the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, and the Office of the President. 

Asked if he will continue the recently created Ombudsman panel, Matibag said he will have to check the members of the panel and the direction of their investigation. 

For her part, Office of the President Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Anna Logan declined to be interviewed by the media.

In her public interview with the JBC, Logan said that the government needs an anti-corruption strategy and must implement an integrity management program.

“We need to cascade this, we need to implement it internally, and we need to implement it through various agencies. We need to continue the integrity management program, Your Honor. It's in a second stage of development right now,” she said.

The interviews will be held from August 28, Thursday to September 2, Tuesday.

The appointed official will replace Martires, whose term expired on July 27.  They will serve a fixed term of seven years without reappointment.

The Office of the Ombudsman handles the complaints filed against high-ranking government officials and those occupying supervisory positions, complaints involving grave offenses as well as complaints involving large sums of money and/or properties.—LDF, GMA Integrated News