SC to decide Gonzalez's reinstatement

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Office of the Ombudsman clarified yesterday that if ordered by the Supreme Court, the agency would reinstate dismissed Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices Emilio Gonzalez III.

Lawyer Mary Rawnsle Lopez, spokesperson of the Ombudsman, said Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro would “gives primacy to the rule of law in his administration as Acting Ombudsman.”

“He (Casimiro) believes that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of all cases and shall wait for the decision in that case,” she told The STAR yesterday referring to Gonzalez’ petition for certiorari which is yet to be resolved by the SC.

Casimiro implemented last Friday the on Friday the ordered issued by Malacañang last March 31 that dismissed Gonzalez for alleged negligence.

Gonzalez’s dismissal stemmed from the alleged delay in the resolution of the case of dismissed police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza who claimed that the deputy Ombudsman had demanded money from him in exchange for a favorable decision regarding the policeman’s motion for reconsideration.

The desperate Mendoza later commandeered a tourists bus and held hostage 21 Hong Kong tourists at the Rizal Park in Manila on Aug. 23, 2010 that resulted in the killing of eight hostages and the hostage taker.

Gonzalez brought the issue before the Supreme Court claiming that the Office of the President erred because heacted promptly on Mendoza’s case based on court records.