Ombudsman cuts red tape

CEBU, Philippines -To hasten the process of investigating complaints against government employees, Tanodbayan Merceditas Gutierrez is now imposing the policy of going back to the old process at the anti-graft office.

Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago, spokesperson of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, said the deputy ombudsman will now sign the approval of the action taken on complaints.

Santiago explained that for government workers with a salary grade of P27,000, the deputy ombudsman will decide on whether to dismiss or upgrade the complaint.

“For those government employees who have a salary grade of P27,000 below, except the department heads of the city and province, the approval of their complaints are in the National Office in Manila,” Santiago said.

Santiago added that this new memorandum will hasten the progress of the complaints.

“Only the high ranking officials need the approval of (Gutierrez),” Santiago said.

She said for complaints against a governor, vice-governor, provincial board member, mayor and heads of each department, only Gutierrez can sign the approval of their cases as these are high-ranking officials.

While for the vice-mayors and below, the deputy ombudsman will sign the approval of their complaints.

Santiago said this process took effect yesterday. Aside from cutting red tape, she said the new order from Gutierrez can also lessen expenses.

“This can save the office funding,” Santiago said.

Meanwhile, Santiago stressed that most cases in their office move slow because of the fact-finding for each complaint, which she said is not easy to do. — (FREEMAN)