Ombudsman probe begins on broadcaster's complaint vs top gov't prosecutors
The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas is officially working on the complaint filed by a veteran broadcaster against seven of Iloilo's top government prosecutors.
Docketed as OMB-V-C-08-0179-E and OMB-V-A-08-0160-E, complainant is Arsenio "Kamlon" Ang while respondents-prosecutors were Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor Bernabe Dusaban, Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Gualberto Balla, Davilahn Columna, Edwin Sustituya, Jonacel Marañon, Antonio Chin and Ricaflor Obsequio.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol in a letter notified Ang of the update stating that both criminal and administrative complaints were assigned to an Ombudsman investigating officer.
Said anti-graft body, Apostol added, "has been instructed to submit to the Deputy Ombudsman his initial progress report within ten (10) days from receipt of the case folder and thereafter, periodic reports on the status of the investigation until termination of the proceedings."
To recall, Ang brought his grievances to the Ombudsman and filed a complaint that included grave misconduct, oppression and conduct prejudicial to the service.
The complaint stemmed from an earlier Libel case filed against Ang by a congressman-complainant. The prosecutors, Ang stated in his complaints, "acting on the behest of a powerful person, Rep. Ferjenel Biron(4th District, Iloilo) and conspiring with one another, maliciously abused their power by hastily concluding preliminary investigation that turned out to be mis-investigation."
In a prefatory statement of the Petition/Complaint, Ang averred that he was constrained to file the administrative complaint "because he has nowhere else to turn to, his tormentors and persecutors being the very persons entrusted with the lofty duty and power to assist the court in the administration of justice, in conducting preliminary investigation so to screen out baseless, frivolous and malicious suits that could otherwise clod the dockets of the courts."
Among Ang's evidences were various certifications issued by renowned broadcast-journalist John Paul Tia, manager of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
The certifications, he explained to The News Today (TNT), showed that the broadcast dates Biron alleged as incidents of Libel never occurred. As such, he said, his only other refuge now is the Ombudsman.