Morales reactivates environmental team of graft investigators

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has reactivated the anti-graft agency’s environmental team and named Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera as the Environmental Ombudsman.

Raquel Rosario Cunanan-Marayag, officer-in-charge of the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, was designated as Mosquera’s assistant.

Morales also assigned 26 government lawyers as members of the environmental team of graft investigators and prosecutors.

The unit was reactivated by Morales pursuant to an existing memorandum of agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for the proper implementation of environmental laws.

The environmental team was tasked to handle cases involving violation of environmental laws or laws concerning environmental protection.

As Environmental Ombudsman, Morales said Mosquera “will act as the reviewing/recommending authority in such cases undergoing preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication.”

Marayag, on the other hand, will act as the reviewing/recommending authority in such complaints undergoing field investigation.

However, Morales will remain as the final approving authority who will determine if cases should be filed in court.

She ordered Mosquera “to keep an updated list of complaints and cases involving environmental violations, issues or concerns, and monitor them including the implementation of sanctions, if any.”