Ombudsman backs up team on anti-Red plate drive
'He who violates the law should apologize,' Apostol says
Ombudsman-led efforts against mis-use of government vehicles mark its “100 days” with more than just the 163 pending cases to report.
Pursued by the Task Force Red Plate, grabbing the limelight now were aftershocks generated by the most recent task force operations. This, as two of the official vehicles of Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas were flagged down and reported as among the 13 “spotted/apprehended.” The governor and his wife Myrna happened to be on board with the vehicles stopped for bearing the unauthorized “GOVERNOR” plates.
The incident was reported and Governor Tupas in a belated reaction told reporters that no less than Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol will now apologize for what happened.
The News Today (TNT) in a phone interview reached Apostol for confirmation.
Yes, there will be an apology, Deputy Ombudsman Apostol said while quickly adding, “if and only if my team was wrong. I will only apologize if we violated the law but it is really impossible to ask for that.. he who violates the law should apologize and not us.”
The apology yarn apparently began with Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar Perez who tried to set up a dialogue with Apostol and Tupas. News accounts said that Perez backed and sympathized with Tupas particularly since the Iloilo Governor was reportedly humiliated and accosted unfairly by the task force.
Deputy Ombudsman Apostol begged to disagree after conducting initial investigation on what happened.
“Why will we disrespect him? Walang nangyari na pinahiya siya,” he said referring to the governor. “And it's really simple – if kami ang nagkamali, then we apologize but if sila, tanggapin naman sana nila... we have to follow the law... lawlessness na 'yan if we keep on violating what is provided by law... the Land Transportation Office is clear about it – no protocol plates outside the authorized ones and no vanity plates beyond the 1 year-period since its issuance.”
Plates bearing “Governor, Vice Governor, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilor or Public Servant” are among the stipulated prohibitions.
“You know I am reaching out to our local government units, our officials so we can join hands and push for one Visayas against corruption... gusto ko na maayos na ang lahat and looking forward that we really become one and help in the anti-corruption campaign again for one Visayas against corruption... ayaw ko rin na hindi kami nagkakaintindihan. So I'm looking forward to talking to Governor Tupas... dapat magkaliwanagan kami,” DeputyOmbudsman Apostol ended.
Meantime, a pro-task force stance was heard yesterday from Director Gerard Camiña, Land Transportation Office regional director.
Camiña in an interview over Bombo Radyo said due courtesy was extended to the governor when the task force flagged down and approached the 'GOVERNOR” vehicles. Camiña also clarified that such special plates are not authorized.