For grave abuse of authority: Santiago's dismissal sought

CEBU, Philippines - Assistant Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago faces anti-graft complaint for allegedly endorsing and accepting the petition for accreditation of Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry Philippines Inc. (MICCIPI) as a corruption prevention unit (CPU).

Fourteen respondents on the alleged anomalous purchase of P23.4 million worth of computers in Lapu-Lapu City filed an anti-graft complaint and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees against Santiago and businessman Efrain Pelaez of the Mactan business chamber.

The complainants were Michael Dignos, Victoria Andoy, Elena Pacaldo, Cleofe Solis, Marita Guiao, Ernesto Imnong, Rogelio Veloso, Engr. Sharon Baguio, Jerico Mercado, Leandro Dante, Rogaciano Tampus, Dr. Cipriano Flores, Buenaventura Igot and Engineer Maribeth Sorono.

According to the complainants, Santiago showed her bias as acting deputy ombudsman in endorsing the accreditation of MICCIPI with Pelaez as incumbent president.

They also accused Santiago of demonstrating “grave abuse of discretion and palpable incompetence.”

With the complaint, they asked for Santiago’s dismissal from service with penalties. They also want Santiago and Pelaez to pay P3.3 million for actual damages; P1 million for moral damages and P100,000 for exemplary damages.

Santiago could not be reached for a comment.

 Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol will endorse the complaint to Manila.

“I will forward this to Internal Affairs Board for investigation. It’s up to Manila to resolve the issue,” he said. He added, “Nakakalungkot minsan, kami ay nagtratrabaho lang but I cannot prevent people filing cases against us.” (This is really sad, as we are only doing our jobs.)

The complainants said an accredited CPU must be in “good standing” to “credibly promote its objectives in the fight against corruption.

In their joint-affidavit, they stated that Pelaez as president and part owner of Coral Point Properties INC. has unpaid real estate taxes from July 20, 2006 to May 20, 2007 amounting to P4,253,924.70.

The complainants said that though Pelaez has tax delinquencies, Santiago “played blind, deaf and mute, endorsed and accepted” the petition for accreditation of MICCIPI presided by Pelaez as CPU.

“As a result of respondent Santiago’s deliberate omission, if not culpable negligence, an association of persons not qualified and not legally entitled to the privilege or accreditation as a CPU of the Ombudsman was issued the same,” the joint-affidavit reads.

The complainants said they sent a letter to Santiago to verify the validity of the written demand of Pelaez with a letterhead of the Ombudsman’s official logo sent to their offices but the letter remained unanswered.

Meanwhile, the complainants said that when Pelaez filed charges against them, Santiago allegedly showed her “bias” in the preliminary investigation, review and resolution of the charges. They likewise said Santiago acted with grave misconduct, dishonesty and oppression when she violated the Ombudsman’s own Rules of Procedure prohibiting public disclosures.

“Despite this express prohibition, respondents Santiago and Pelaez individually or jointly made headlines in leading local newspapers and granted radio and television interviews in such manner that exposed herein complainants,” they said.

The complainants said Santiago during an interview with the media stated that the anti-graft team found that several computers went to public schools which had no electricity contrary to the statement of property custodian of Pangan-an National High School that computers purchased were being used by the said school up to this day. — (FREEMAN)