Ombudsman sacks employee for extortion
MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of one of its employees for reportedly extorting money from a Customs official.
Wilger Urmaza, an Associate Graft Investigation Officer III of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO), allegedly tried to extort P500,000 from Remedios Espinosa, officer-in-charge of the Import Assessment Service of the Bureau of Customs.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales signed the order last Monday.
The FIO conducted an investigation after receiving reports of Urmaza’s supposed illegal activities. It found evidence that Urmaza visited Espinosa and asked for P500,000 in exchange for dismissal of a pending case filed against her in the Office of the Ombudsman.
Espinosa was charged with attempted robbery, serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
The ombudsman’s Internal Affairs Board (IAB) said there is evidence that Urmaza was extorting from Espinosa, and even threatened to conduct a lifestyle check on Espinosa.
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