Apostol picked as adviser of new Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines - Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol was chosen as one of the 15 advisers of newly elected Ombudsman Conchita Carpio – Morales, a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Apostol confirmed his appointment yesterday. He said he has been designated to brief the new Ombudsman on the rules and regulations of the office.

Apostol said he will also ask Morales to revert the rule on the final approval of cases. During the time of Simeon Marcelo, deputy ombudsmen can approve with finality the resolution and decision of cases within their areas of jurisdiction, however, this changed when Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez assumed office. Gutierrez required that all resolutions and decisions of cases from the entire country be forwarded to the central office in Manila for approval.

Gutierrez’ policy, Apostol said, rendered deputy ombudsmen useless.

“There are already stains in the Office of the Ombudsman because of the problems of delay and many people complaining about it and I wanted to raise it to the Ombudsman,” he said.

“And I hope cases like CICC and Balili will be back here in the office (Visayas) to hasten the investigation because the preliminary investigation was conducted in Manila and it can cause delay to the resolution of the complaint,” Apostol added.

What is happening at present, he said, is that cases will “sleep” for up to three years at the central office in Manila before they are forwarded back to the offices in Visayas and Mindanao.

“With the new Ombudsman I hope the rules and management of the office will be amended and be back to normal,” Apostol said.

President Benigno Aquino III announced last Monday the appointment of Morales as newly elected Ombudsman after the resignation of Gutierrez. Aquino is optimistic that Morales will have an “honest to goodness” anti-corruption office.

Morales will head the Office of the Ombudsman for seven years. —(FREEMAN)