By Brian Campued
The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) stressed that the filing of plunder charges against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is not politically motivated, but part of its mandate to ensure accountability of public officials.
This, as Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday announced that cases will be filed against Sen. Marcoleta with the Sandiganbayan in connection with the senator’s undeclared campaign contributions worth around P75 million.
According to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, the minimum amount of ill-gotten wealth a public official must accumulate to be charged with the crime of plunder is P50 million under Republic Act No. 7080.
“Doon sa mga panayam niya (Marcoleta) at mga inanunsiyo din niya sa publiko, nakatanggap daw siya P75 million. So, ‘yun ay over and beyond doon sa threshold ng plunder na P50 million at nanggagaling sa mga donor na hindi naman niya dineklara sa kaniyang SALN (statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth). At kung sasabihin natin na ginamit niya sa campaign niya sa pagiging senador, at hindi niya rin dineklara sa SOCE (statement of contributions and expenditures) niya,” Asst. Omb. Clavano said in an interview with the People’s Television Network.
In response to Sen. Marcoleta’s statement calling the charges “planned” in order to silence him and prevent his participation in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the OMB stressed that his case was not the only charges announced by Remulla.
“Mahirap din pong sabihin na politika ito lalo na po hindi nga lang ito ang inanunsiyo ni Ombudsman kahapon, kasama na din po yung mga congressman na malamang na bumoto rin in favor of the impeachment. So, di ko rin makita kung saan ang politika dito dahil lahat po ng nagkakasala ay kinakasuhan naman namin… It is not politics, it is accountability,” Clavano said.
He likewise maintained that the OMB is one with the call of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for transparency and accountability after the religious group gathered along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) near the People Power Monument in Quezon City on Tuesday morning, allegedly to support Sen. Marcoleta.
In a statement delivered in a televised interview, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said they are not against the implementation of the law, however, they are opposing the “distortion of the law,” especially if it is intended to cover up corruption.
“Ang pagbaluktot po siguro ng batas ay hindi pagkaso sa mga nagkamali, ‘yun po siguro ang magiging punto din ng Office of the Ombudsman at gusto rin namin ipaliwanag na parehas ang ipinaglalaban nating dalawa. ‘Yung INC ay nanawagan ng transparency at accountability, kami din sa Office of the Ombudsman ay nanawagan ng transparency at accountability,” Clavano said.
“Ang mandato ng Ombudsman, kung may nakitang sala ang mga investigators, we are duty bound to investigate and kung may basehan na i-file sa korte at i-prosecute,” he added.
Meanwhile, Clavano assured the public that cases would only be filed against erring public officials and other individuals once the pieces of evidence show “reasonable certainty of conviction.”
“Wala kaming kikilingan na tao o panig, hindi kami titingin sa politika para [magabayan] ang aming mga desisyon. Talagang kung magkamali ang isang public officer, kailangan may accountability. Kawawa na po ang taumbayan, kawawa na po ang ating ekonomiya, kaya minamabuti na namin na lahat ng nagkakasala ay talagang mapaparusahan,” he said. (with reports from Rod Lagusad / PTV News)
-jpv
