3 golfing buddies of Cebu trader cleared

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military has cleared three more police and military officials who were investigated for playing golf with a local businessman at the Cebu Country Club in 2001.

The investigation was prompted because businessman Wellington Lee was then the subject of a congressional inquiry for his alleged involvement in large-scale illegal drug trade.

Cleared of charges of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were former La Union police director Oscar Calderon, Navy Finance Center officer George Uy and then Cebu regional police comptroller Dennis Canoy.

Earlier cleared were then Philippine National Police chief Leandro Mendoza, Director General Rex Piad, Director Thompson Lantion and Superintendent Carlito Dimaano.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas initiated the investigation based on media reports on the golf-playing incident. It subsequently recommended the filing of a complaint against the seven officers.

But the Ombudsman-Military, upon review, cleared Mendoza, Piad, Lantion and Dimaano of the charges.

Graft investigation officers Mary Antonette Villegas, Anafe Manlapaz and Gilbert Bueno argued that the mere act of a public officer in playing golf with a suspected drug dealer does not give a bad image to public service.

The Ombudsman said mere association with people who are suspected to be involved in any illegal activity does not constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. — Freeman News Service