Ombudsman to pols: Stop crying persecution

OBY REINA TOLENTINO

MBUDSMAN Conchita CarpioMorales has told politicians who have pending cases before

“The Filipino people are the The Ombudsman noted that real victims whenever corrupt alleged political harassment has public officials steal money,” become “the standard ‘ public Morales said in a statement isrelations’ defense” of politicians sued on Tuesday. facing corruption charges.

She also told politicians with But Morales, a former Supreme - Court justice, said this claim will ing the public the impression that not stand in court and that the you are being politically persecutpublic is not gullible to believe it. ed. It is the other way around. Ev ery peso lost to corruption means not distinguish whether it is elecless free medicines for indigent tion period or look at the party patients in government hospitals and health centers, less textbooks “We decide only on the basis of and classrooms in public schools, evidence. After careful and objecand less food packs for victims of tive evaluation of the evidence natural disasters.” gathered, we immediately file cases, if warranted. We are oblivi cases in courts, just as corrupt every time an opportunity comes,” Morales said.

“Fighting corruption is a 24/7 as soon as we are done with a thorough and impartial investigation. propaganda and threats in doing our job. As I have said in the past, for my life,” she added.

On accusations of “selective justice” by detractors, Morales said indeed been “selective.”

“Yes, we are selective because the Ombudsman’s charter (Republic Act 6770) mandates us to prioritize cases against high-ranking involving grave offenses, as well as complaints involving large sums of money or properties or those against big-time plunderers. We are selective because we dismiss cases when evidence is not suf constrained to dismiss administra because the abandonment of the condonation doctrine is prospective according to the 10 November 2015 decision of the Supreme Court,” she explained.

Republic Act 6770 is The Ombudsman Act of 1989.

Morales said, “We are pleased that the general public appreciates our efforts to end corruption.”

She cited the Bilang Pilipino Social Weather Stations ( SWS) Mobile Survey conducted last March 28, wherein over half of the respondents said they had “much - man and gave the constitutional body a net trust rating of +49.

Ombudsman, the SWS also said that its trust rating was “Very Good” (+50 to +69) in Balance Luzon (outside Metro Manila ) and the Visayas, and “Good” (+30 to +49) everywhere else.