Akbayan awards 'People's Medal of Valor' award to Ombudsman Morales

MANILA - Akbayan Partylist has conferred a symbolic “People’s Medal of Valor” on Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales for pursuing the probe on the wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family. 

The group lauded Morales for remaining headstrong in the face of the President's statements against her, including allegations of corruption in her agency.

 “Kung si President Duterte ay sinasabi na he hates corruption, hindi siya dapat ma-threaten sa Ombudsman,” Akbayan Communications Officer Justine Balane said.

Akbayan also assailed administrative complaints filed by former lawmakers Jacinto Paras and Glenn Chong, and lawyers Manuelito Luna and Eligio Mallari, against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang in relation the anti-graft agency's investigation of the Duterte case. 

Akbayan also called on the public to support the Ombudsman's anti-corruption efforts.

“The Ombudsman is just doing her job. Why crucify her for that?," Akbayan Secretary General Kit Melgar said in a statement.

Morales earlier inhibited in the case as her nephew Manases Carpio is married to Duterte's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. But she said her office would pursue the investigation, citing the Ombudsman's constitutional duty.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Disbarment case filed against Ombudsman

A disbarment case against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was filed at the Supreme Court (SC), for clearing former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III from any liability over his administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

In his complaint, former Manila City councilor Greco Belgica accused Morales of violating the Lawyer's Oath and the Canon of Professional Responsibility when she approved earlier this month a resolution absolving Aquino of the charges for technical malversation, usurpation of legislative powers, and graft.

"In absolving the president (Aquino) of criminal liability by omitting his name in the discussion relative to the finding of probable cause against former (Budget) Secretary Florencio Abad, the Filipino people were deprived of their right to procedural due process."

"Hence, the Ombudsman violated her lawyer's oath when she deprived of their right to due procedural due process, a right enshrined in our Constitution and mandated by law," the complaint read.

Morales was also accused of violating Rule 6.01 of the Canon of Professional Responsibility when she " failed to perform her duty to see that justice is done."

The complaint also claimed Morales violated Canon 7 and Rule 7.03 of the same code for her alleged failure to "uphold the integrity and dignity" of the legal profession in clearing Aquino of the charge of usurpation of legislative powers.

"Taking into consideration the fact that the former president appointed her, her conduct of favoring the former president adversely reflected her fitness to practice law," the complaint read.

While clearing Aquino, Morales indicted Abad for usurpation of legislative powers for unlawfully issuing the National Budget Circular No. 541 that was used to carry out the DAP.

Ombudsman argued that the technical malversation and graft complaints were dismissed because "they cannot be indicted for technical malversation since they did not "apply" public funds to other purposes."

The DAP was challenged before the high court by several petitioners, one of whom was Belgica, with the magistrates striking down as unconstitional in 2014 several of its provisions such as the pooling of public funds even before the end of the fiscal year, using savings to aid offices outside the executive branch and Office of the President, and funding projects not found in the General Appropriations Act.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LTO chief admits going to casino

MANILA - Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virgina Torres has admitted going to a casino after a video clip of her playing at a slot machine went viral.

Torres said she played with the slot machine after having dinner with a friend.

She said she was amused with the machine's lights.

"Yes, I remember having dinner with a friend in a hotel. While waiting for the bill to be settled, I saw the slot machine on the lower floor and out of curiosity, I sat in front of one machine and marveled at the lights and read the instructions. I immediately left when the bill was paid. This happened way back," Torres said.

Memorandum circular 8 issued by the Palace in 2001 bars government officials, rank-and-file employees, soldiers, and police from even just entering casinos.

Ariel Ronquillo, assistant commissioner for legal affairs of the Civil Service Commission, said government workers should be role models.

Torres earlier drew flak for being close to President Benigno Aquino, who is fellow gun enthusiast.

She also became controversial when she clashed with her former boss, then Transportation and Communications Secretary Ping de Jesus.

The Civil Service Commission said Torres could be suspended for up to 6 months if she is found violating government regulations against going to a casino.

But this will happen only if either Malacañang or the Ombudsman sanctions Torres.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com