Ombud downgrades complaint vs. teacher

CEBU, Philippines - Due to incomplete facts, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas downgraded the administrative complaint filed against a public school teacher into a fact-finding investigation.

Graft investigator Euphemia Bacalso said Ronald Gutay’s allegations that he was maligned by Josephus Alquilos, a public school teacher in Toledo City, was unclear.

“Other than the precipitous, vague and general mention of an alleged act of degrading and maligning, the complaint is bereft of any factual allegation and/or elaboration whatsoever that would materially substantiate his cause of action,” the evaluation report reads.

Based on the complaint filed by Gutay, Bacalso said she did not find any sufficient lead that would establish his claim that he was maligned by Alquilos.

Likewise, she said the complaint filed by Gutay was not supported by a Certificate of Non-Forum Shopping.

“Under the circumstances obtaining, the undersigned investigation officer is of the considered view that, in the interest of justice and equity to both parties and to give complainant the necessary assistance in addressing his gripe, it is deemed most proper to docket the present complaint as CPL for further fact-finding,” the evaluation report further reads.

Earlier, Gutay, a resident of Toledo City, filed an administrative complaint for misconduct against Alquilos.

He said that sometime in May 2011, Alquilos filed an alleged unfounded and baseless complaint against him for abuse of authority. He added the complaint lacked supporting evidence.

On December 5, 2011, he said Alquilos withdrew the complaint due to the “misapprehension of facts.”

Gutay said the administrative complaint he filed was a counter-suit for degrading his reputation and maligning him.

Gutay however, did not specifically mention his allegation prompting graft investigator to refer the complaint for a fact-finding investigation.— (FREEMAN)