What can you say about the resignation of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni?

Janet Lopez, Manila: At least he saved us the cost of litigation and possibly preserved his good name. Others have to be dragged out kicking, ending up so muddied.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Instead of saving the Ombudsman from controversy, his resignation used gas, not water, to quench the fire. It helps no one, not even himself.

Sense of delicadeza

Leonard Villa, Batac City: I take my hat off to Jalandoni for having delicadeza, unlike his thick-skinned and incompetent counterparts.

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: Like running water in the stream, life is come and go. A government post is a delicate position for trusted men to occupy. Perhaps, Deputy Ombudsman Jalandoni just wanted to prove that delicadeza still exists in this country.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: At last, there’s a man of honor exuding the exceptional trait of delicadeza, which is shamefully absent in barnacle-clingers like Ombudsman Gutierrez and Deputy Ombudsman Gonzales. May the tribe of Jalandoni increase, as he is worthy of emulation, no matter what the verdict be on the charges against him.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Mark Jalandoni is a rare gem among our public servants. By resigning, he not only saved face, but also saved the government from a long, drawn-out court battle.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Dep. Omb. Jalandoni saw the light, unlike Omb. Gutierrez and her cabal of deputies who continue, with their seething arrogance, to salvage whatever credibility is left of their Office. Maybe he would want to keep his dignity intact, unlike his peers who have already forfeited theirs.

Salvage what dignity he has left

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Rather than have misdeeds uncovered in public, the subject opted to resign and save what is left of his pride and dignity.

Tony Gomez, Parañaque City: Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni hopes that, with his resignation, the government will not file cases against him anymore, which could make his life more unbearable.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Hurray for him, at least may delicadeza yung tao and, for that, he earned my respect, because although he may have committed transgressions in the line of his duty, he chose to resign to spare himself from further humiliation. I just hope Deputy Ombudsman Gonzales will follow suit.

Putting their own people in

Felix Ramento, USA: What is now happening in the government is symptomatic of a new administration out to deploy its own people in sensitive positions. Loss of confidence is generally the most convenient basis for termination, as in the case of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni, who just happens to possess enough self-respect and decency not common among government functionaries.

Personal decision

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: It’s his personal decision. Let’s leave it that way. Let’s not make an issue out of it.

Overhaul the justice system

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: For me, it makes no difference whether government officials suspected of irregularities resign or not. Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni has the right reason for resigning to unburden the administration of having to get rid of him and/or to keep the trust of the public in the Office of the Ombudsman. I hope, however, that Jalandoni would attend to the accusations hurled against him, even if he has already resigned, not only to clear his name, but to put closure to cases he was accused of. On the other hand, Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III is also right in challenging the wisdom of the administration in dismissing him. He has the right to protect the integrity of the government by going through due process. The culprit is our archaic judicial system that can no longer serve true justice as we deserve. Our judicial system has to be overhauled to remain relevant to the times.

Escaping the heat

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: He knows what’s coming to him. He just wants to escape the heat, I suppose.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Deputy Ombudsman Jalandoni’s resignation might be a personal sacrifice to spare Ombudsman Merci from additional liabilities, such as failure in the prosecution of high-profile cases of corruption.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Deputy Ombudsman Jalandoni must be expecting the wrath of Aquino vengeance to fall on his neck.

Adding fuel to the fire

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: Well, he just threw a stick into the bonfire.

Right thing for him to do

Louella Brown, Baguio City: If Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni believes that he is no longer trustworthy as a public official, resignation is the rightful thing for him to do.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: I think Mark Jalandoni is one of the few remaining government officials of the previous administration that still has an iota of delicadeza. As an employee, when your boss loses trust and confidence in you, resignation is the best alternative, pure and simple.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Once the Office of the Ombudsman is tainted with distrust of wrongdoing, I believe that it is the end of the road. When the integrity of a man is questioned, trust is gone and he should bid goodbye. The holidays have ended, too, and partying has obviously started to end. No one is indispensable in this world and that includes Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, Mark Jalandoni.

Dig for more dirt

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Administrative charges leveled against Jalandoni must only be the tip of the iceberg for him to do a runaway. The DOJ must dig, dig and dig his being as a Deputy Ombudsman. To be fair to Ligot and his wife who is contemptible with her crying theatrics in the Senate, assets of Jalandoni and his family should be turned upside down for scrutiny.

Cleaning up the Ombudsman’s Office

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: One thing is clear, the Palace is bent on ridding the Office of the Ombudsman of GMA appointees.

Hope the rest follow suit

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: In resigning, he at least still has a tinge of honor left and a remaining fiber of conscience left in him. We pray that the rest will follow suit, starting from Merceditas Gutierrez, all the way down to all deputies, assistants, down to their legal advisers/counsels. Except for Simeon Marcelo, who eventually resigned (for his conscience cannot take it forever), it is a known fact that this Office of the Ombudsman is one government bureau where even unheard of and unreliable corporate (not defense) lawyers become instant millionaires. They will fight tooth and nail to retain/maintain this position, along with the luxuries that go along with it. For them, never mind the Filipinos’ condemnation, hindi naman nakamamatay ’yan.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: At least may natitira pang delicadeza si Jalandoni. Sana lahat sila, from the janitor to the Ombudsman, ay mag-resign.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: It’s the most sensible thing Dep. Ombudsman M. Jalandoni can do. I hope others would follow suit, especially those who have been administratively charged.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: Bakit siya lang ang nagbitiw? Dapat marami. P-Noy intends to reorganize the Sandiganbayan with his own men to fulfill his anti-corruption campaign.

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: Even if, for the sake of argument, Jalandoni has some explaining to do about some questions leveled at him as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, I admire the fact that he voluntarily resigned from his post, unlike many in our government who feel glued to their seat of power! It makes me throw up whenever I hear or read the declarations of glaringly guilty officials who are beleaguered by accusations of malfeasance, yet refuse to vacate their post, some of them invoking, “I serve at the pleasure of my appointing superior!” In the case of Jalandoni, who said that he resigned because he felt that he is next in the line of fire from Malacañang, the act should show other government officials who should do self-immolation at the hint of their undoing and misdeeds, just like those in Japan, US and other countries! Calling on all the others who should resign now to give way to the President’s intended change that we direly need for our country. Pero ang sabi ng isang kaibigan ko, ‘pag nag-resign mga ito ay wala nang matira sa gobyerno!

A matter of conscience

Jun Montebon, Parañaque City: Timely move, as he must have been conscience-stricken. To the others who are thick-skinned, I think the public won’t mind if they consider doing an Angelo Reyes.

Who will take the fall?

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni resigned due to his sense of self-respect, rather than be exposed to controversy, not worthy of spent time and energy, as they will bear no good fruit but false pride. His name had already been tainted by accusations which he claims are baseless and he does not want to add more burden to the embattled Office of the Ombudsman. He could be right, but if after thorough investigation, he is found not guilty of any misdemeanor, who will take the blame?

Long overdue

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: The resignation is long overdue as the Deputy Ombudsman is also seen as one misguided and evasive in many investigations about his attitude in resolving so many pending cases in his office.

No sense of fair play

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: If we are to believe news reports, it seems like the people close to and surrounding P-Noy have no sense of fair play. They are bringing to the idiot box tears instead of smiles, heat instead of light, and apathetic indifference instead of compassion. The resignation of Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni is a perfect move. If he wants to growl, condemn, and eternally find fault, he must resign his position and damn to his heart’s content. Otherwise, if he does not resign, the first high wind that comes along will blow him away and he probably will never know why.

The real target

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City:  Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni used his common sense and read between the lines. It’s not that significant for the moment. Wait until Jalandoni surfaces as a whistleblower in the impeachment trial against Ombudsman Gutierrez. The worst is yet to come, for Congressman Gloria Arroyo, who is the real target of the shooter.

I admire him

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: It’s a wise move. At least he can still collect his retirement pay, rather than putting a semblance of a good fight in court. Nevertheless, I admire him.

Let truth prevail

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: Kung sa pamamagitan ng kusang pagbibitiw sa tungkulin ay magdudulot ng kapayapaan at mababahawan ng batik ang Office of the Ombudsman ay tama lamang ang pasiya ni Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni. Subali’t kung ang hangarin niya ay makaiwas sa parusa sa kasalanan na maaaring maihatol sa kanya sa mga usaping kinasasangkutan niya ay dinadagdagan lamang niya ang kanyang mga kasalanan sa batas ng tao at sa batas ng Diyos. Nawa ay makatarungan ang pasiya niya.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: It’s difficult to speculate on why Deputy Ombudsman Jalandoni decided to resign, unlike Ombudsman Gutierrez and Deputy Ombudsman Gonzales who want their day in court. Sooner or later however, the truth will be out.

What more to say

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: What more can I say? The relevant reasons have already been expressed. Are more to follow?

Lapid Calls For Setting Up of Care Centers For Elderly

Mellany Corpuz, Hong Kong: That’s good news.

Stefano Dilisciandro, Houston, Texas: Who will pay for this?

Henry Tan, Metro Manila: Tahimik lang talaga mag-trabaho si Leon Guerrero. Idol! After Lapid law, school bag law, now elderly. He’s a senador ng masa!

Cerna Meru Dimaano, Hong Kong: Oo, dapat mayroon din tayo nito. Matutuwa ang mga oldies.

Max Tandan, Metro Manila: He should take the lead by donating his millions of pork barrel to care centers of the elderly.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

NEXT INBOX QUESTIONS: Do you agree that the country’s ballooning population is to blame for the rising incidence of hunger in the last three months?

You may also email your views to: [email protected]. 

(Editor’s Note: We have just added another channel to reach Inbox World via the growing Facebook community. If you have a Facebook account, add up PhilStar Inbox and give us a glimpse of your views on raging issues of the day. Selected comments will be published in The Philippine STAR Inbox World. Readers may also post intriguing questions for other Inbox friends to comment on. See you there.)