The Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao has dismissed from service 91 public officers in Mindanao in 2016, for an average of eight a month.
In a press briefing Tuesday, Atty. Faith Presbitero of OMB-MIN said the office had resolved to dismiss three mayors, one vice mayor, five members of the Sangguniang Bayan, former regional directors of the National Police – Region 11, and National Telecommunications Commission – Region 12, and an assistant regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Davao, among the high ranking officers.
High ranking officials are public officials with Salary Grade 27 and above and those who were enumerated in Republic Act No. 8249, commonly known as the Sandiganbayan Law.
“There were also 107 public respondents who were suspended,” Presbitero said, adding that 23 of whom were suspended for more than six months.
Among the high ranking officials were suspended from their posts are two governors, a vice-governor, and several mayors in Mindanao for various offenses such as abuse of authority, irregularities, and non-filing of their Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Presbitero said there were 26 respondents who got reprimanded and one imposed with a fine, bringing to 225 the number of respondents who were sanctioned last year.
“The Ombudsman also filed 129 criminal cases in court wherein 27 were filed in Sandiganbayan involving high ranking officials, 81 in the Regional Trial Court, and 21 in the Munucipal Trial Court,” she added.
Presbitero added that OMB-MIN was able to dispose 1,014 cases, representing 58 % of its case workload of 1,739 cases wherein 921 are administrative cases and 818 are criminal cases.
Disposed cases refer to those that are filed, dismissed or resulted in the imposition of sanctions against public officers.
“OMB MIN reported the highest case disposition rate among other OMB offices,” Presbitero said, pointing out that the bulk of last year’s cases involved elective officials.
She mentioned that criminal cases were filed against 296 city and municipal councilors; 243 city and municipal mayors; 172 barangay chairs; 117 barangay kagawads; 84 city and municipal vicemayors; 24 provincial board members; 17 governors; 13 members of the House of Representatives; and 5 vice-governors.
“Topping the list of common criminal cases are violations of R.A. No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) with 177 cases,” she said, adding that the data is followed by Falsification of Documents with 83, Malversation with 59 and Perjury with 33.
Meanwhile, administrative cases were filed against 316 city and municipal councilors; 217 city and municipal mayors; 198 barangay chairs; 129 barangay kagawads; 82 city and municipal vice-mayor; 19 provincial board members; 16 governors and 6 vice-governors.
Presbitero said the common administrative offenses are Grave Misconduct with 239 cases, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service with 169 cases, Dishonesty with 103 cases, Gross Neglect of Duty with 60 cases, and Grave Abuse of Authority with 59 cases.
When asked regarding the difference between Department of Justice and OMB, Presbitero said that OMB is the one responsible for investigating government officials accused of crimes, while DOJ is responsible for upholding the rule of law in the country and serves as a legal counsel and prosecution arm.
