THE Office of the Ombudsman is the nation’s go-to agency on matters of the people’s redress from corruption, harassment, inefficiency and other wrongdoings of government officials. The framers of the 1987 Constitution saw to it that the Charter specifically mandates the body to investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint of any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.
This office is also ordered by the Constitution to give priority to complaints filed against ranking government officials and/or those occupying supervisory positions, complaints involving grave offenses, as well as complaints involving large sums of money and/or properties.
‘Any news about how the Office of the Ombudsman and the judiciary are successfully fighting official corruption is welcomed by the citizenry.’
The Ombudsman’s lesser-known function is that it can prod officials into performing or expediting any act or duty required by law; and stop, prevent and control any abuse or impropriety in the performance of such duties.
Graft and corruption are so pervasive in both government and the private sector that Ombudsman Samuel Martires once vented his frustration in a congressional hearing and said it might be impossible to rid the country of corruption despite the government’s efforts, unless a thorough value and religious formation is initiated.
He believes “it will take us a lifetime to fight corruption unless and until we change our values. Unless and until we disregard the sources of corruption, which are greed, envy, lust, avarice, these are all the seven cardinal sins.”
He admitted before lawmakers that graft and corruption exist even within the Office of the Ombudsman, and the fight against corruption is “not easy, no matter how many billions are spent.” Martires is not remiss in his duty as the nation’s anti-corruption czar, as he pushed for the firing of his own overall deputy ombudsman who was linked to the controversial Pharmally scandal.
Lately, Martires found an ally in the Supreme Court, which has affirmed the dismissal of an Ombudsman official for fixing cases in exchange for money.
In a 26-page decision promulgated April 8, 2024 and posted online on Wednesday, the Court’s 3rd Division upheld the rulings of the Court of Appeals and the Ombudsman, finding Rolando B. Zoleta administratively liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, among others. Zoleta was assistant ombudsman for Luzon before he was assigned to the Appeals Bureau of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
In 2017, the Internal Affairs Board – Investigating Staff filed a complaint against Zoleta, alleging he offered to help facilitate the dismissal of cases against high-ranking officials pending preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication before the Ombudsman-Luzon and the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices.
The Ombudsman found Zoleta administratively liable and ordered his dismissal from government service. The Court of Appeals affirmed the Ombudsman, prompting Zoleta to file a petition before the SC. The high court, in denying the petition, said Zoleta had the capability and position to influence cases as he was tasked to handle both trial and appellate work at the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Text messages between Zoleta and Leonardo Nicolas Jr., an official of the Intelligence Bureau-Field Investigation Office of the Ombudsman who was arrested in an entrapment operation on July 21, 2017, show that Zoleta actually demanded and received bribe money in exchange for helping and fixing the case. Copies of documents likewise reflected actual cases they have purportedly “fixed” for monetary consideration.
The SC found that Zoleta’s corrupt acts “exhibited his lack of morals and constituted dishonest acts so serious they damaged not only the name of the Ombudsman but of public service as well.”
Any news about how the Office of the Ombudsman and the judiciary are successfully fighting official corruption is welcomed by the citizenry.
