WV gov't execs given 'crash course' on anti-graft body's role
From "friendly-reminders" to administrative sanctions of reprimand and removal from public office, Western Visayas regional directors of national government agencies got a 'crash course' yesterday.
With a significant majority present, no less than Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol served as 'lecturer' in a first-ever forum of the anti-graft body with the region's top executives.
The group was apprised by Ombudsman Apostol of procedural matters undertaken by the anti-graft body particularly in seeking a response on particular cases cum complaints handled by the Office of the Ombudsman here.
Never meant as harassment, Apostol said, but mere clarifications in Ombudsman fact-finding missions likened to police work.
"If we send you notices, consider it as friendly-reminders… tulungan tayo (let us help each other)," Deputy Ombudsman Apostol appealed while reminding the group," corruption is a crime... the worst crime any public official can commit."
Further still came the reminder that even outside of official functions and turfs, the Ombudsman as a rule can still impose administrative sanctions on any violators.
"And ours are not mere recommendations for we are mandated to compel our decisions to be imposed yet rest assured, these comes with evidence," he said.
Yet what about those public officials and employees who fail to reform while in public office and in power?
"Itulak na sa bangin (Push towards the cliff)," Deputy Ombudsman Apostol jokingly said.
Among those present were Regional Director Gerard Camiña of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Regional Director Rolando Asis of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Regional Director Larry Nacionales of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Regional Director Edwin Trompeta of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Regional Director Mario Sison of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Conrad Chiongson of the PAG-IBIG Fund, and Regional Executive Director Lornelyn Claudio of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Atty. Ferdinand Panes, chief of the Legal Section of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) opened the open forum with a query on the matters regarding removal from office of elective officials.
Incidentally, no-show was Department of Health's (DOH) Dr. Lydia Depra-Ramos. The News Today (TNT) gathered that likewise set yesterday was a fact-finding mission on reported anomalous procurements in the DOH.