Neri suspension not yet final

MANILA, Philippines - This is in response to the article “Ermita faces raps for not suspending Neri,” written by Michael Punongbayan, which appeared on page 9 of today’s issue of The Philippine STAR.

In the said article, Mr. Punongbayan states that the Executive Secretary can “be charged with graft,” “liable for grave misconduct” and “cited for contempt” “for failing to implement the Office of the Ombudsman’s six-month suspension order on Social Security System (SSS) president Romulo Neri.” Your reporter then cites his alleged source from the Office of the Ombudsman that only a temporary restraining order or an injunction from a court can stop the enforcement of the Ombudsman’s suspension order.

Please be properly informed that the suspension order of the Ombudsman is not yet final, because of the timely filing by SSS President Neri of a motion for reconsideration. Nowhere in the rules of the Office of the Ombudsman is it stated that a decision or order pending reconsideration is already final and executory. In fact, due process dictates that while a motion for reconsideration is still to be resolved, the decision being sought to be reconsidered cannot yet be implemented.

If only Mr. Punongbayan cared to verify (as a responsible journalist should) the legal basis of his source “who declined to be named,” it would have saved your respected daily from publishing an untruthful article, if not an utterly false information seemingly intended to malign the Executive Secretary and to mislead the public. Understandably, his alleged source at the Office of the Ombudsman declined to be named for the obvious reason that s/he was feeding inaccurate information.

We urge your reporters to be more circumspect in their reporting, not to swallow hook, line and sinker unverified information, in the interest of upholding your publication’s honorable and exemplary tenet that “Truth Shall Prevail.” — PILITA QUIZON-VENTURANZA, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary