Assistant Cebu prosecutor cleared of grave misconduct

CEBU CITY — Due to a technicality, the Office of the Ombudsman has cleared an assistant provincial prosecutor of charges of grave misconduct.

The complaint against assistant provincial prosecutor Cesar Tajanlangit was filed by Grace Go, one of the respondents in a case of kidnapping and serious physical injuries which was lodged against her and her husband, Roderick, by their former business partner James King.

Go alleged that Tajanlangit resolved the case with manifest partiality that led to the filing of the information against her and her husband in court.

Go filed a petition for review of Tajanlangit’s resolution with the Department of Justice and as a result, the DOJ exonerated her and directed Tajanlangit to withdraw the charges against her and file an amended information in court.

However, Go said Tajanlangit continued to defy the DOJ’s order.

But the Ombudsman said records of the case would show that Grace has filed a case echoing the same allegations against Tajanlangit with the DOJ.

With the DOJ having taken cognizance of the case, Go’s complaint with the Ombudsman would be tantamount to a duplication, the anti-graft office said.

"It is respectfully recommended that this administrative case be dismissed outright for being a mere duplication," the Ombudsman said.

In a resolution dated March 7, 2003, former Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong said there were several facts which proved that Go should not have been included as one of the respondents.

King filed a motion for reconsideration on the DOJ resolution but the DOJ denied it. King then elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals, where it remains pending.

Tajanlangit argued that since King’s petition with the Court of Appeals remains unresolved, Go is still a respondent. — Freeman News Service