He will elevate it up to the Supreme Court if he also loses in the appellate court, he said.
The Ombudsman recently junked a motion for reconsideration filed by Trinidad, who was seeking to nullify the dismissal order issued against him and several other Pasay City officials last Jan. 12.
"This recent development is a very good opportunity for me to seek justice elsewhere. The problem with the Office of the Ombudsman is that they have not answered the specific issues I raised in my appeal. Though, in the first place, I never really expected justice from the Office of the Ombudsman," he told reporters.
The former mayor likewise questioned why people who were not direct participants in the case were immediately provided copies of the decision of the Ombudsman while he who filed the motion, is yet to receive a copy.
"The decision should be treated as a highly confidential information. They have to explain to the people why the likes of Mayor Allan Panaligan and Councilor Generoso Cuneta were able to secure copies of the Ombudsman resolution even before I get to read it," Trinidad said.
Panaligan, a former Pasay City councilor, was appointed mayor following Trinidad’s dismissal. Cuneta, meanwhile, avoided dismissal by turning witness in the graft case against Trinidad and other officials.
In a resolution dated Feb. 23, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez dismissed allegations from Trinidad, Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto and eight city councilors that they were not accorded due process when they were suspended and later dismissed for alleged wrongdoing in awarding garbage disposal contracts without a public bidding.
In a resolution issued last Jan. 12, the Ombudsman also imposed a perpetual ban from holding public office against Trinidad, who was charged with graft for grave misconduct in connection with the contracts.
The Ombudsman also dismissed Trinidad’s petition to recall the immunity agreement granted to the witnesses in the garbage scam that caused his dismissal from the service.
Despite his dismissal, Trinidad challenges his opponents to run against him in the mayoralty race in the coming May 14 elections.
The Ombudsman also rejected a motion from Calixto, who is seeking to reassume office and take over as acting mayor of Pasay City.
Calixto vows to pursue his case. "I am just awaiting for a sheriff of the CA to accompany me back at the City Hall. I am also awaiting for the CA’s clarification on the temporary restraining order it issued on my suspension."
The TRO was the appellate court’s response to Calixto’s suspension ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Last week – armed with a copy of the restraining order – Calixto went to city hall to get his job back but was turned away by policemen. Metal barricades were again set up around the city hall to prevent Calixto from entering.
However, the Department of Interior and Local Government has denied Calixto’s request for reinstatement until the CA clarifies its restraining order on the suspension.