Ombudsman probes employee over lapses

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has placed one of its personnel under disciplinary investigation for a “grave offense” after Sen. Robin Padilla’s counter-affidavit, related to the obstruction of justice complaint over the escape of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, bypassed the agency’s standard logging procedures.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla admitted that a staff member at the central records section failed to encode the document as a “received communication” into their computer system.

Instead, the personnel brought the affidavit directly to the division investigating the two lawmakers.

Remulla said skipping the central log is a severe violation of internal rules, which were strictly implemented to prevent parking or the deliberate stalling of cases within the agency.

“Because many complained that parking exists in the office, we implemented a system that requires all communications to be logged. That way we will know what arrives within the day and see the status of the documents submitted,” Remulla explained.

He said the employee did not record Padilla’s counter-affidavit and, instead, brought it directly to the investigating panel.

“That’s a grave offense. We placed the incident under disciplinary investigation,” he added.

Remulla made the confirmation two weeks after accusing Padilla of ignoring the anti-graft office when the latter allegedly failed to respond to the summons related to the charge of obstruction.

Padilla allegedly helped Dela Rosa evade an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and escape Senate premises in May.

Remulla said he has personally written to Padilla to explain the procedural lapse.