Graft prober axed for asking money, iPad from complainant

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales yesterday ordered the dismissal of one of the agency’s graft investigators for asking for money and an iPad from a businesswoman who wanted to file a complaint.

Associate Graft Investigation Officer Romeo de Guzman of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Public Assistance Bureau (PAB) lost his job after being found guilty of grave misconduct due to solicitation and infraction of an order barring employees from recommending private lawyers to litigants.

The ombudsman also forfeited De Guzman’s retirement benefits and banned him from returning to government service.

De Guzman is also facing criminal charges – three counts of violating Section 7(d) (soliciting gifts or money) of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Businesswoman Juliet Yoshikawa alleged that she went to the PAB on April 8, 2010 to air her complaint against certain local officials of Glan, Sarangani in connection with the communication tower being built by a telecommunication company on her property without her consent.

De Guzman, who attended to Yoshikawa’s grievance, supposedly advised her to engage the services of a lawyer and offered to find one for her.

On April 28, 2010, Yoshikawa said she met with De Guzman and the lawyer he referred, during which she signed a retainer contract and handed over two checks amounting to P100,000 each. 

After the meeting, Yoshikawa said that on several occasions, De Guzman demanded P18,000 and P7,000 as appearance fees for him to take action on her requests for assistance, P2,000 to assist in complainant’s passport renewal and an iPad for his wife.

Subsequently, De Guzman set up another meeting for Yoshikawa to sign the complaint to be filed against the telecom company as she was advised to prepare P180,000 as filing fee. 

The Office of the Ombudsman said it does not charge any filing fee or appearance fee for any complaint or request for assistance.