Ombudsman set to decide on Expo charges vs Doy

The Office of the Ombudsman is expected to issue this month a resolution on whether to indict former Vice President Salvador "Doy" Laurel in a graft case involving the alleged overpriced construction of the Freedom Ring at Clark Field in Pampanga.

Lawyer Jose de Jesus, director of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Evaluation and Preliminary Bureau, said the case against Laurel was now ripe for resolution.

De Jesus said this was based on an earlier decision by the Supreme Court to declare Laurel a "public official" in his involvement in Freedom Ring project of the Centennial Expo as chairman of the National Centennial Commission in 1996.

"The Supreme Court, in effect, allowed the Ombudsman to come out with a resolution. The filing of the graft complaint had earlier been put off after Mr. Laurel asked for more time to explain his side," he said.

De Jesus pointed out that the former vice president has already filed an extended counter-affidavit.

"Not later in August, we will come out with a draft resolution that will be submitted to Acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio, who will decide whether or not to approve it," he said.

De Jesus explained that if Gervacio gives his nod, Laurel would be indicted for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

"Approval of probable cause would result in a case filed at the Sandiganbayan. If there is none, he will be cleared," he said.

Earlier, former Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said probers had found probable cause to file a graft case against Laurel.

Assistant Ombudsman Hilario Apostol, who conducted the preliminary investigation, reported that the Freedom Ring – the centerpiece of the Centennial Expo – had an overpriced construction value.

"The actual contract price was P248 million, but it was changed to P1.2 billion. That was the reason why then President Fidel Ramos objected to the project," Desierto said.

He also pointed out that there was no bidding conducted.