THE Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao's (OMB-Min) Field investigation Unit (FIU) has recorded 718 workload cases from January to October 31 this year.
Data obtained from the Ombudsman showed that 351 were pending cases in 2016 and 367 are cases received as of October 2017.
The unit was able to resolve 185 cases of the 718 workload cases, 55 of which were recommended for docketing into regular Ombudsman cases.
Out of these recommendations, the 27 people involved are high ranking officials while the other 28 are low ranking officials.
The FIU, with only 12 investigators, cut workload cases in 2016 from 351 to 226 (36 percent). Adding the 533 pending cases as of October 31, there are still 759 cases left for investigation.
FIU also handles a total of 21 cases involving Priority Development Assistance Fund (Pdaf), whereby four of which have been duly concluded.
When administrative sanctions can no longer be enforced, The Office of the Ombudsman converts the penalty into a fine equivalent to the salary of the accused.
The OMB-Min has collected P1,372,907 fines from the accused as of October 2017.
A delay without just cause in acting on any referral made by the Ombudsman shall be a ground for the administrative action against the officers or employees to whom such referrals are addressed and shall constitute a graft offense punishable by a fine of not exceeding P5,000. (ICT)