Capitol, City Hall graft cases grab limelight in Ombudsman gab
Msgr. Oso sermons graftbusters, Deputy Omb. Apostol assures action
Like the complete attention he usually gets when he delivers his homily in the pulpit, it was 100% silence with the audience – region's graftbusters – seriously listening to what Monsignor Meliton Oso had to say.
It was not as if they seemingly had a choice though. The Monsignor the very second he began to speak commanded that silent attention.
The event was yesterday's Strategic Assessment and Planning Conference by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas. The monsignor as president of the People's Graftwatch was to give a report being a primary partner of the Ombudsman in the government's anti-graft efforts.
And major reporting Monsignor Oso did in a highly-emotional message while repeatedly stressing – “Our fight against corruption is faith-driven.”
At the center of the monsignor's sentiments was the now infamous graft case involving top officials of the Iloilo Provincial Government.
“I took my time in signing the complaint because my brother is involved... we wanted to send a strong message to everybody – the mayors, the barangay officials – that corruption is the embodiment of all that is evil in this country... and we failed... the Ombudsman bungled our case. Something went very very wrong... Capitol siege happened with us not even informed of what was happening... gin-taya namon amon kabuhi... amon ngalan tapos ginpalagpatan lang... I am not supporting Governor Niel Tupas... we are against corruption in the Capitol but we have great misgivings on how our case was handled by the Ombudsman,” a visibly upset Monsignor Oso said.
He then went on to decry yet another People's Graftwatch case, the long overdue P120 million Pavia housing project of the Iloilo City Government.
“P120 million nga sa kaluoy ni Santa Clause, wala pa madesisyunan... the one in the Capitol was P80,000... and there was also the P1 million project in Igbaras, Iloilo where those involved were recommended to be dismissed... what message are we sending? Steal small and you will be dismissed. Steal big and you will be fined,” Monsignor Oso continued.
In the end though came his impassioned appeal, “We are very serious in our fight against corruption... Magbuligay kita but again damo amon misgivings... We are serious in eradicating corruption even if we will not achieve it not during our lifetime... Ours is faith-driven... the least that the Ombudsman can do is expedite our cases.”
“I'm sorry but we join the call for Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to resign,” Monsignor Oso also boldly added.
Sentiments that were well received by Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol.
The Deputy Ombudsman when reached for reaction had several pages of notes that he used to address point by point the monsignor's statement.
“I appreciate the statements of Monsignor Oso. I thank him for helping us battle corruption in government. And I will consider what he said a challenge for us... I believe there is hope and we want unity in our efforts... unity in the networking of that effort,” Deputy Ombudsman Apostol said. “I am also very sad of that impression that we bungled their case. I want to tell Monsignor Oso that we want to make a difference. And that from now on, we will make sure that cases referred by our Corruption Prevention Units will be given the priority and the members here updated of the outcome. Gusto ko magka-isa kami and I want everybody to know that fair play is very important for me.”