‘Up to ombudsman to sue axed, resigned officials’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is leaving it up to the Office of the Ombudsman to file charges against dismissed and resigned officials tagged in corruption. 

“The ombudsman should look into it because, as I said, the ombudsman has the constitutional mandate to conduct preliminary investigation to determine if they should be charged in court for violating the anti-graft law. So it’s up to the ombudsman,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing yesterday.

President Duterte has been asking officials tagged in irregularities to resign and has fired those who opted to remain in their posts. 

Last Monday, Duterte fired Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Mark Tolentino who allegedly talked with the President’s sister about a project.

Tolentino previously accused some transportation officials of derailing the Mindanao railway project to favor foreign contractors. He also claimed that the officials were seeking a loan from China even if the government had allotted P26 billion for the project. 

Roque said the statements of Tolentino could start debates on whether there is a need to borrow money to fund the railway project. He, however, stressed that the former assistant secretary does not have the authority to decide on matters related to project funds. 

“If we really have money for it, then we can use our money for other projects. We would be glad if we have an excess budget. We can now fund the universal health care and just borrow money for the Mindanao railway. But this decision is made by the (DOTr) secretary, not the assistant secretary,” Roque said.  

“The President has repeatedly said he does not micromanage the government so it’s up to (Transportation) Secretary (Arthur) Tugade. They have a chain of command. If (Tolentino) has a recommendation, he should have given it to his superior... He should not have spoken if he did not have authority,” he added. 

Roque said it remains unsure whether the P36 billion in the budget is enough to bankroll the entire Mindanao railway. 

The President has also accepted the resignation of Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Cesar Montano, who drew flak over an P80-million “Buhay Carinderia” project that was intended to promote Filipino dishes. 

Roque could not say whether Duterte asked Montano to resign. 

“I have no information on that, but I knew that the resignation was filed. In fact he announced it to the world, because he was the one who posted his own resignation letter,” the spokesman said. 

Last week, the President ordered Department of Justice assistant secretary Moslemen Macarambon Sr. and Department of Public Works and Highways assistant secretary Tingagun Umpa to resign after they were accused of irregularities. Macarambon reportedly intervened on behalf of suspected jewelry smugglers while Umpa was accused of asking certain percentages from projects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Earlier this month, Duterte suspended several government prosecutors, airport personnel and customs officials implicated in corruption. He has also asked Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Wanda Teo to resign after she was embroiled in a controversial contract that gave P60 million in DOT advertisements to a media outlet owned by her brother Ben Tulfo.