EDITORIAL- A reason to demand speedy action

In an effort to speed up the resolution of complaints filed against government officials, the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas announced that all cases involving public officials will be resolved before the 2016 national elections.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente explained that the move is needed considering the fact that any administrative case will become moot and academic when a public official subject of the complaint wins in the coming elections.

The move was the subject of a memorandum from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that ordered the speedy resolution of cases involving public officials now that the next national election is fast approaching.

Well, the move is something that all Cebuanos should keep an eye on. We all know that the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has always been the subject of criticism from some quarters, especially the media, over the delay in dispensing complaints, especially those that involved public officials.

We do not know what is taking so long for the Ombudsman Visayas to resolve complaints filed before the anti-graft office. It seems, based on previous experiences, it is having a hard time when it comes to resolving cases involving government officials.

But it's hard to pin the problem on the lack of manpower. That is because Cebuanos have never heard a single gripe from the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas complaining about the scarcity of anti-graft investigators of late.

So it is therefore safe to assume the Ombudsman has enough personnel at its disposal. And the office seemed confident it would never have any problem going through the mountain of complaints filed against government employees and officials.   

But it is really quite a mystery what is taking the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas so long to dispense complaints filed against public officials. Of course, the public does not want to think those anti-graft probers have been remiss in their sacred duties.

With the Ombudsman's assurance of resolving complaints filed against public officials before the next elections, at least the public has the reason to demand a speedy action from graft investigators.