Deputy ombud cleared of raps

CEBU, Philippines - Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol has been cleared from the administrative complaint filed against him before the Office of the President for allegedly not acting on the complaints filed before his office.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. of the Office of the President dismissed the complaints filed against Apostol for lack of jurisdiction. He cited jurisprudence Gonzales vs. Office of the President to support his decision.

“Subjecting the deputy ombudsman to discipline and removal by the President, whose own alter egos and officials in the executive department are subject to the ombudsman’s disciplinary authority, violates the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman itself,” the decision read.

It can be remembered that businessman Efren Pelaez in 2013 filed gross inefficiency and gross neglect of duty against Apostol for an alleged failure to act on his complaint involving problems in Lapu-Lapu City.

In 2013, Pelaez ran for mayor in Lapu-Lapu but was defeated by Mayor Paz Radaza.

Pelaez reportedly filed cases against former congressman Arturo Radaza, who was then mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, for an alleged anomalous purchase of computers, ghost payroll, tong collection of public utility vehicles and a violation of RA 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Contrary to the allegation of Pelaez, Apostol said he does not sit on cases filed before his office.

Apostol earlier said the said cases were already endorsed to their Central Office for review and approval.

Apostol claimed that their office has a zero backlog in terms of cases. He is set to end his seven-year term as deputy ombudsman on August 21, 2014.  (FREEMAN)