Ombudsman readies raps vs ‘red plate’ violators

The Office of the Ombudsman is now preparing criminal and administrative cases against 32 government officials and employees found to have illegally used government-owned vehicles.

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni told reporters that the list of people who face the criminal charge of malversation of government property and the administrative charge of grave scandal includes the following: Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) executive assistant Aida Simboria, Malolos Bulacan City Legal Officer Jeffrey Cruz, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) treasurer Silvano Uy, Department of Energy (DOE) directors Elizabeth Navalta and Manuel Ocampo, Interior and Local Government Albay director Plandino Maceda and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) administrative officer Anastacia Santiago.

Also facing the same charges are Quezon City Councilors Eric Medina and Alma Montilla, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) director Jesus Mototomul, Marikina City Vice Mayor Marion Andres, Candelaria, Zambales Mayor Jean Morana and Corazon Ginete, who is an assistant secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

According to Jalandoni, the Ombudsman’s Task Force Red Plate identified the authorized users of these government vehicles with the help of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Jalandoni said that, with the issuance of subpoenas against them, the users of these government vehicles presented travel tickets. However, as the vehicles were seen parked in shopping malls and markets during weekends and in spas and nightclubs during weeknights after 5 p.m., the Office of the Ombudsman said it is not convinced that these vehicles were being used for official purposes.

"We are convinced that the law has been violated here," said Jalandoni.

However, he admitted to reporters that, most of the time, members of the task force only manage to get photographs of parked vehicles, not the vehicles’ occupants "because we have a no-contact policy."

Since the start of its monitoring in April, Task Force Red Plate conducted 600 initial investigations nationwide. On a weekly average, Jalandoni said at least 125 "red plate" vehicles bearing government license plates are being used illegally — and are seen doing so.

The Office of the Ombudsman estimates that, on a weekly basis, government loses at least P9 million on government vehicles used for non-official purposes nationwide.