Unfair to the Ombudsman

We were told by some of our friends in Cebu City over the Sinulog weekend that there is an apparent campaign to question the integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with its recent moves regarding the case of alleged overpricing in the purchase of lampposts for the 12th ASEAN Summit.

This is most unfair.

The smear drive, we were told, appears politically-motivated and designed to tie the Ombudsman’s hands.

We were told that the Ombudsman has withdrawn two of the cases it filed before the Sandiganbayan in connection with this issue. Reason: it feels it cannot prove its cases beyond reasonable doubt. It stated in its memorandum before the graft court that “the prosecution is now in doubt that it can prove its allegations that the lamppost purchase were overpriced.”

It has also reportedly asked that all related cases now pending before the Sandiganbayan be withdrawn “for further re-investigation.”

Now some nebulous characters are spreading innuendoes that “arrangements” have been made with the Ombudsman which has caused it to take the reverse moves.

The anti-Ombudsman demolition squad is, however, being warned that its smear drive is backfiring.

Already, there are talks that the anti-graft office may have simply been caught in the midst of the incessant political wars in Cebu. And if the detractors don’t watch it, the entire lamppost issue could end up being perceived as nothing more than just a brilliant election strategy to unseat some local government officials in that province.

That perception is now reportedly being reinforced by news that the Bureau of Customs documents that are being used as evidence of the alleged overpricing are – as some Cebu media outlets reported it – suspected to be spurious and falsified.

The Ombudsman is reportedly looking at the angle that the concerned broker – who is now facing charges – may have toyed around with the figures in the documents pertaining to the shipment of the controversial lampposts.

Many Cebuanos are also wondering now whether or not the Office of the Ombudsman may have finally realized that the controversy is tainted with very strong local political overtones.

As if sobriety and sense has returned, many are now asking whether or not the political personalities – both the accused and accusers – were merely political foes who saw the lamppost issue as a powerful tool. The question is also being asked whether or not a supposed whistle-blower in the case – who also happens to be a supplier-contractor which lost a bid for an ASEAN summit contract – may have an alliance with some of the political personalities involved in the row.

Some of our friends also recall that the initial complaint regarding this row was supposed to have been prepared in the house of a Cebu City councilor allied with a major political personality involved in the quarrel.

Sober and sensible, many Cebuanos are now putting the pieces together and cannot but ask whether or not they have been taken for an embarrassing ride.

If the public are now becoming more enlightened on the issue, so why shouldn’t the Ombudsman take the more cautious and prudent approach?

Why smear its integrity by correcting apparent missteps and asking itself whether or not it was also taken for a ride?

We hope that vested political interests would keep off the Ombudsman and let it do its job in the fairest, best way it knows.

They should take their quarrel elsewhere.

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