Thursday, April 19, 2007 Ombuds complaints rise during election season By Carlo P. Mallo
THERE is a surge in the number of complaints filed with the Office of the Ombudsman against incumbent officials running for public office in this election, but there's nothing new about it.
Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Humphrey Monteroso said there is always a surge in the number of complaints during elections season all over the country.
In an interview Monday, Monteroso admitted that most of the complaints are politically motivated and are intended to harass the candidates.
From experience, only around 20 percent of the complaints filed are found to be with probable cause after initial investigation. The remaining ones are mostly re-hashed complaints or some even "chop up" one complaint against one candidate so that it will appear that there are many complaints filed against him when there is but one incident involved.
While they are now used to complaints being filed for political reasons, Monteroso said their office still peruses and investigates all these. Charges of similar nature, usually from the chopped up charges, are then consolidated before formal investigation starts.
The deputy ombudsman assured the public that there are safeguards for persons who wish to divulge the wrongdoings of public officials. The witness protection program of the Department of Justice, he said, ensures the safety of whistleblowers and witnesses against erring public officials.
