SC Rules that OSG Has No Control Over Ombudsman, Dismisses Petition
SC Rules that OSG Has No Control Over Ombudsman, Dismisses Petition
Read moreOmbudsman reiterates implementation of suspension order against MCIAA GM
The Office of the Ombudsman has required the office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to submit the status of the implementation of the preventive suspension order issued against Steve Dicdican, General Manager of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority. In a letter to Secretary Arthur Tugade, the Office of the Ombudsman mentioned that it has been receiving reports that respondent continues to report to office despite the order for his preventive suspension. A copy of the preventive suspension order was likewise served upon Atty. Dicdican thru his official email address in accordance with the Supreme Court 2019 Revised Rules of Procedure. As a lawyer, he should not wait that the order be officially served upon him by the DOTr Secretary because he is expected to observe compliance with lawful orders of duly constituted authorities. Under the Office’s rules on procedure, a compliance report must be submitted by the DOTr within three calendar days from receipt of the Order of Implementation. The office of Secretary Tugade was provided with copies of the order on 17 December 2020. ### Public Information and Media Relations Bureau Office of the Ombudsman Telephone No. 8479.7300 local 2122
Read moreOmbudsman orders preventive suspension of MCIAA General Manager
Read the Ombudsman Order OMB-C-A-20-0176
Read moreSTATEMENT OF OMBUDSMAN SAMUEL R. MARTIRES
The directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra to investigate allegations of corruption in the government is most welcome. Secretary Guevarra is an intelligent and decent public servant who is well-respected by his peers and colleagues. The DOJ has been a long-standing partner of the Office in its drive against corruption. It will be recalled that the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) played a pivotal role in the investigation of the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam that resulted into the Ombudsman’s swift action in resolving these cases. More recently, the DOJ filed a complaint with the Office, supporting the Ombudsman’s independent probe, which resulted into the issuance of the preventive suspension order against top officials of the Philhealth. Both the Ombudsman and the DOJ are members of the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council (IAAGCC), a multi-agency partnership established in 1999 as a voluntary alliance of government agencies to formulate and develop concerted techniques and strategies in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of graft cases. Several partnership agreements have also been forged between the two agencies to ensure the prompt handling and speedy disposition of cases. Given this partnership, there is absolutely no basis to detract or underestimate the laudable objectives of the President in creating the DOJ mega task force. In any case, investigations conducted by the DOJ involving complaints of corruption are subject to the evaluation of the Ombudsman. As an independent constitutional body, the Ombudsman assures the public that it will continue to conduct in-depth parallel investigations as to alleged anomalies in the government despite this Office’s limited manpower and the ongoing reorganization to strengthen the bureaus undertaking investigative functions. ### Public Information and Media Relations Bureau Office of the Ombudsman Telephone No. 8479.7300 local 2122
Read moreOMB Memorandum Circular No. 1, series of 2020 is solely applicable to SALNs filed with the Office of the Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman reiterates that the issuance of Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 1 Series of 2020 is in accordance with prevailing rules and regulations on the disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of public officials and employees. The MC is applicable solely to the SALNs of the following enumerated officials and employees where the Office of the Ombudsman is the official repository: I. before the National Office of the Ombudsman: a. President b. Vice-President c. Constitutional Officials such as the Chairpersons and Commissioners of the Commission on Audit, Commission on Elections, and Civil Service Commission d. Ombudsman and the Deputies II. before the Deputy Ombudsman in their respective regions (Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao) a. Regional officials and employees of the following offices: – Departments, bureaus and agencies of the National Government – Judiciary and Constitutional Commissions and offices – Government-owned and/or controlled corporations with and without original charter, and their subsidiaries in the regions – State colleges and universities b. Provincial elective officials and employees including Governors, Vice-Governors and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members c. City and municipal elective officials and employees, including Mayors, Vice-Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan/Panlungsod Members and Baranggay officials d. Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines below the rank of colonel or naval captain – Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, 1st Lieutenant and 2nd Lieutenant (Army and Air Force) – Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant Senior Grade, Lieutenant Junior Grade and Ensign (Navy) – Other enlisted officers e. Officers of the Philippine National Police below the rank of Senior Superintendent – Superintendent, Chief Inspector, Senior Inspector and Inspector – Other police officers f. Officers of the Philippine Coast Guard below the rank of Commodore – Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Junior Grade and Ensign It must be emphasized that this MC does not apply to other SALN repositories, i.e., the Office of the President, Secretary of the Senate, Secretary of the House of Representatives, Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, Court Administrator, and the Civil Service Commission, for government officials and employees not mentioned above. ###
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