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Ombudsman in Mindanao issues erratum on name of dismissed mayor

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 6 (PNA) -- The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has apologized to Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong for inadvertently naming him as one of the three mayors in Mindanao ordered dismissed for graft.

The OMB said it was actually referring to Mayor Ali Untao Adiong and not Mamintal, who is governor of Lanao del Sur.

In its erratum to the press, the OMB wrote:

“This is with regard yesterday’s (05 November 2015) Press Release of the Office of the Ombudsman entitled 3 Mindanao mayors dismissed from service, 3 more face criminal charges. Mayor Mamintal Adiong should be read Mayor Ali Untao Adiong of Ditsa-an Ramain, Lanao del Sur. We regret the error. Our apology to Governor Mamintal Adiong of Lanao del Sur.”

OMB in a press release and action documents provided to the members of the media during a press conference at its office on Thursday mentioned Mayor Mamintal Adiong of Ditsa-an Ramain, Lanao del Sur as one of the three mayors ordered dismissed for grave Abuse of Authority, Grave Misconduct and Oppression for ordering the burning of a truck owned by JERA General Construction.

The firm was hired by the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO) to install concrete electric posts and distribution lines in the municipality.

Meanwhile, the October disposition of cases by the OMB is the biggest in number so far. In 2014, OMB–Mindanao disposed all aging cases from 2010 and below. OMB records show that in 2014, criminal case workload reached a total of 1,190, of which 624 cases were resolved; 164 resulted in the filing of information in court and 26 were filed with the Sandiganbayan and 120 with the regular courts.

For the 792 administrative cases in 2014, the OMB adjudicated 526 cases; 128 resulted in the imposition of administrative penalty upon 179 respondents.

As of June 30, this year, OMB already disposed 41 percent or 322 of the 779 criminal cases and 45 percent or 317 of the 704 administrative cases.

In an interview, Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman said the disposition of cases indicated the strong leadership of the office headed by former justice Conchita Carpio Morales.

He said the Ombudsman is determined to curb corruption and to deal with transgressors without exception even if some of the politicians who were ordered dismissed from the service are identified with the present administration.

According to Elman, in the disposition of cases they do not look into the political affiliation of the respondents charge before the office. “So you can see the strong determination conviction of the present ombudsman,” he said.

Elman also pointed out that they do not look into personalities. “We just resolve cases on the basis of evidence and so it means if there are rules, laws violated we just apply the law regardless of personalities,” he stressed.

Elman assured that their resolution or decisions are based on the evidence and records.(PNA)
LAP/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR/LDP

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