MANILA, Philippines – Defiant Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III today broke his silence over President Benigno Aquino III's order, firing him from his office.
A radio report said that the public information office of the Office of the Ombudsman distributed copies of Gonzalez's written statement to reporters.
In the statement, Gonzalez said he can disprove in court Malacañang's findings that he committed "gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct" in handling the dismissal complaint against Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, who was killed by police after shooting down eight Hong Kong tourists during the bloody Manila hostage crisis in August 2010.
Gonzalez also denied that he extorted P150,000 from the enraged policeman in exchange for the dismissal of his case.
In the letter, the deputy ombudsman also said that he received information that the Palace lawyers who recommended his dismissal to Aquino subjected him to a lifestyle check.
He said that the investigators failed to find anything suspicious in his financial records, which proves that he does not extort money from the respondents in cases that his office is handling, including that of Mendoza.
Gonzalez said that he is prepared to fight President Aquino's order through the legal process.
Aquino said yesterday that only a temporary restraining order can stop him from firing Gonzalez, whom he blamed for the bloody end of the Manila hostage crisis.
He said that Gonzalez has every right to file a motion for reconsideration and question the administrative sanction, but the fact remains that Gonzalez falls under his jurisdiction, being a non-impeachable official.
They are just waiting for the grace period during which Gonzalez may avail of his motion for reconsideration, or until such period lapses.
“Well, he has an entitlement to have a motion for reconsideration filed, so we will wait for the process. There is a deadline. Then if so warranted, then we will enforce the law,” Aquino said.