Graft investigator dismissed for soliciting money from litigant

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed from the service one of its employees for soliciting money from a complainant in April 2010.

Aside from being sacked, Associate Graft Investigation Officer Romeo de Guzman also faces criminal indictments for grave misconduct. 

The charges against De Guzman stemmed from a complaint of Juliet Yoshikawa who went to the Ombudsman's Public Assistance Bureau (PAB) on April 8, 2010.

Yoshikawa wanted to file a case against certain local officials of Glan, Sarangani in connection with the alleged illegal construction of a communication tower on her property without her consent. 

De Guzman attended to Yoshikawa and offered her a lawyer to handle the case.

When Yoshikawa, De Guzman and the lawyer whom he referred to her met on April 28,2010, the complainant signed a retainer contract and handed over two checks amounting to P100,000 each. 

After the meeting, Yoshikawa said that De Guzman would demand P18,000 and P7,000 as appearance fees for him to act on her requests for assistance.

De Guzman also demanded from Yoshikawa P2,000 to help her in passport renewal and an iPad for his wife.

De Guzman also asked Yoshikawa to ready P180,000 as filing fee for her complaint against the telecommunications firm.

In a resolution, the ombudsman maintained that "officials and employees shall not recommend private attorneys to litigants or prospective litigants in any case or complaint filed with or originating from the Office of the Ombudsman, or to anyone dealing with the Office."

The Ombudsman also said the Office does not charge any filing fee or appearance fee for any complaint or request for assistance.