Former Ombudsman ”disappointed” with decisions on officials allegedly involved in corruption

January 17, 2019

  Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales said she is ''disappointed'' with court decisions of some government officials allegedly involved in corruption activities.

   "During my time, I filed a lot of cases. Some are now pending trial, some are decided but I'll be frank to say that I'm disappointed," Morales told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Prospects Forum in Makati City on Thursday.

  "Cases in which I thought evidence are strong, all are being dismissed. In other words the accused are being acquitted," she explained.

   She said they filed cases on the basis of what they believed would constitute probable cause and whatever the evidence they gathered would lead to the conviction of the accused.

   "But I'm not the judge, I'm just the prosecutor," Morales added.

   She also questioned how these politicians known to be involved in corruption can still eye a seat in the government.

   "They say that these people are being corrupt but they are being recycled," said Morales.

   "Some are being branded as corrupt... but they are reborn. They are given position. So that is what's disappointing about it," she added.

   The Office of the Ombudsman in 2014 filed plunder cases against former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada at the Sandiganbayan for allegedly receiving millions of pesos in kickbacks by diverting their priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to bogus projects.

  They are out of bail or acquitted and will run for senator in the 2019 mid-term elections. Ella Dionisio/DMS