ombudsman merceditas' struggle

the fertilizer fund scam.
the world bank black list report.
the corruption from malacanyang.

malaya spot:

the senate blue ribbon committee conducted its own investigation as to the alleged anomalies and corruption that occured in the construction of infrastructure projects supported by funds coming from the world bank. the arrow points to FG arroyo as always.

the senate last year also called for an investigation regarding the fertilizer fund scam, pinning jocjoc bolante as the architect of the said scandal. further, the scam is also connected to the palace as there seems to be a relation to the 2007 elections. the arrow does not point to the first gentleman, instead to the president.

these are the issues that promted legislators to call the attention of the ombudsman. apparently, its not to submit the reports but to call for her resignation due to her inability to effeciently and effectively respond to the cases. the ombudsman is an official appointed by the president. aside from that, the ombudsman is also a classmate of first gentleman mike arroyo.

it is in this picture that some people derive the perception that the ombudsman is doing nothing to resolve the issue thereby concluding that she is protecting the persons in the palace from facing prosecution.

the ombudsman responded. the fertilizer fund scam is not an ordinary case to resolve. the setting is different for in order to launch a strong case against those responsible, there should also be a strong evidence to substatntiate the claim unlike in the senate where investigations and inquiries including the reports drawn from such procedure does not merit or imply or mean that there is already strong evidence. the procedures in the legislative branck concerning investigations is in aid of legislation.

it may be.

i may not yet be a lawyer but i believe that this performance of the ombudsman creates a cloud of doubt as to the integrity of the institution supposedly the first office to respond and come up with an action against public officials. the ombudsman need not to resign. she just have to act with independence and credibility.