Ombudsman claims 79% conviction rate

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas posted a 79-percent conviction rate of the criminal cases it has filed and prosecuted in court last year.

The figure is 15-percent higher compared to its 64percent conviction rate in 2010.

In its accomplishment report, the anti-graft office in the Visayas said that the senior officials were able to guide and support the prosecution bureau.

The same report states that of the 43 cases decided by the court in 2011, the antigraft office in the Visayas was able to secure 34 convictions. Nine were acquitted.

Of those convicted, 31 were charged for violation of the Revised Penal Code while two were for violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas last year received a total of 1,020 criminal cases— 948 anti-graft cases while 72 consist of other cases.

The prosecution bureau likewise reported about 15 criminal cases withdrawn or archived as of last year.

The anti-graft office said it has filed 17 cases before the Sandiganbayan, 137 cases before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) and 32 cases before Municipal Trial Court (MTC), Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) and Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) last year.

It has dismissed 305 cases, 12 cases referred to other government agencies and 54 cases referred to Ombudsman’s sectoral office.

For administrative cases, the Ombudsman Visayas has penalized 180 public officials while it has also dismissed 442 cases for lack of evidence.

There were 22 cases referred to other government agencies and 109 were referred to other Ombudsman Offices.

A total of 64 cases were upgraded for preliminary investigation or administrative adjudication.