Desierto okays dropping of Celeste’s case

CEBU — The director of the Office of the Ombudsman reiterated that Ombudsman Aniano Desierto approved the recommendation of a graft investigator to dismiss the administrative case against Vice Gov. Fernando Celeste for airing masiao tips over his radio program on radio station dyHP.

Virginia Santiago said Desierto approved the resolution of Edgemelo Rosales because otherwise the Ombudsman would have attached a corresponding memorandum from the Office of Legal Affairs.

Santiago said that once Desierto reverses a recommendation, he will cancel the word "approved," but if he approves, he will cancel the word "disapproved" and attach a corresponding memorandum from the Office of Legal Affairs.

"Because of the absence of a memorandum, as far as the unanimous interpretation is concerned, Desierto approved the resolution of Rosales, otherwise there has to be a note," she said.

A clarification by Desierto is nevertheless needed to clear everything and stop all confusion, she said.

Desierto is reportedly in Australia and will be back today.

In explaining why the administrative case against Celes-te had been disapproved, Santiago cited the case of Palma vs. Fortich wherein the Supreme Court ruled that when an offense is committed by a public official, his being a public official is separate from his being a private individual who committed that offense. — Freeman News Service