The April 28, 2023 Order of the Ombudsman in OMB-C-A-APR-23-0061 directed that Cesar Chiong, Acting General Manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, and Irene Montalbo, Acting Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration, be placed under preventive suspension without pay for the duration of the proceedings until the same is terminated but not to exceed six (6) months.
Complainants in this case are MIAA officials who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of their cause of action involving the reassignment of 285 employees and the designation of Montalbo as Acting Assistant General Manager despite her unsatisfactory rating. The Office took cognizance of the complaint pursuant to the Ombudsman Act of 1989 or Republic Act No. 6770 which prescribes that it may take up a complaint in due course or proceed with fact-finding investigation in any of the following modes: motu proprio (through the own accord of the Office), or through an anonymous complaint or a formal complaint filed before the Office.
Under Section 24 of the same law, the Ombudsman may preventively suspend any officer or employee under his authority pending an investigation, if in his judgment the evidence of guilt is strong, and (a) the charge against the officer or employee involves dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of his duty; (b) the charges would warrant removal from the service; or (c) respondent’s continued stay in office may prejudice the case.
The Office bases its Decisions, Orders and Resolutions from the evidence on record and exercises due diligence and impartiality in passing upon facts which are relevant or material to the case. ###
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