Ombudsman dared: Pursue PEA raps

One day after he was appointed Ombudsman, Simeon Marcelo was challenged by militant groups yesterday to file charges against Public Estates Authority (PEA) officials who were suspected of involvement in the alleged overpricing of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard (PDMB).

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya (Pamalakaya) challenged Marcelo, currently solicitor general, as they opposed his appointment to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio Jr. welcomed yesterday Marcelo’s appointment and said officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman would support Marcelo "every step of the way in the fight against graft and corruption in government."

Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap said Marcelo’s move on the controversial PDMB was the first major test for him.

"The question is will Marcelo allow the plunder charge filed against PEA officials. This is principal in establishing his credibility because the plunder trail shows that the Office of the President and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo could have a hand in clinching the P600-million road scam," he said.

Hicap claimed that the Marcelo appointment was apparently a political move by President Arroyo to quash possible plunder charges against her husband and his associates.

KMP chairman Rafael Mariano said many of the officials involved in the alleged PDMB controversy were presidential appointees and close friends of Mrs. Arroyo and her husband.

The leaders of the militant groups said they hoped that Marcelo would do his job and act in accordance with the interest of the people.

In a statement, Gervacio said, "We are glad that the long wait for the new head of the Office of the Ombudsman is now over."

The officials and staff of the Office of the Ombudsman promised to back Marcelo, he said. He praised Marcelo by saying that he is "fully qualified for the position and a man of great honor, integrity and probity."

The political opposition decried the appointment of Marcelo and accused Malacañang of turning the constitutional anti-graft body into "a tool for political vendetta."

Crispin Remulla, a spokesman for Partido ng Masang Pilipino, claimed that Marcelo’s appointment would ensure that "current officials and their political allies would be spared from possible prosecution" by the Ombudsman.

"The statement of Ombudsman Marcelo that ensuring the conviction of President Estrada would be his highest priority leaves us no doubt that his mandate is to persecute the principal political enemy of Malacañang. To us, it appears that the Ombudsman has been declared as the official Palace inquisitor," Remulla said.

Describing the appointment of Marcelo as smacking of "cronyism," Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta said it "might undermine the system of checks and balances under the Arroyo administration because he might not be expected to render an independent judgment on cases that could be filed against Palace officials and allies."

But Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Marcelo should be given a chance to show that he can handle the job of Ombudsman.

"We should respect the President’s decision," Pimentel said. "It is now up to Marcelo to prove that he can live up to the expectation of the people."

He said Marcelo was definitely qualified to assume the post.

At the House, Rep. Oscar Moreno (Lakas, Misamis Oriental) said he was not surprised at the flak that Marcelo immediately received after his appointment was announced by Malacañang.

"The reasons are simple: they know that Mr. Marcelo cannot be bought," he said.

He said Marcelo’s detractors have discerned the new Ombudsman’s "pure and patriotic intentions, and they know that Mr. Marcelo is absolutely committed to prosecute the plunder cases against the former president with utmost vigor and intensity."

"The immediate appointment of a new Ombudsman is a welcome shot in the arm to the losing and rapidly deteriorating drive against corruption in government. Another day that passes with the Office of the Ombudsman being occupied in an acting capacity by Mr. Margarito Gervacio regrettably adds up to the sharp and continued weakening of that office. It is no longer bearable," he said.

In a statement, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) welcomed yesterday the decision of Mrs. Arroyo to appoint Marcelo as the new Ombudsman.

The IBP said Marcelo was "highly qualified for the position" and that he would bring to the Office of Ombudsman "the competence, integrity and independence necessary to properly discharge the duties of initiating reforms in the public sector and of strengthening good governance in the country." – With reports from Sammy Santos and Jess Diaz