Ombudsman team denies bribery allegation

MANILA, Philippines – The team from the Office of the Ombudsman prosecuting cases before the Sandiganbayan yesterday slammed Bayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque over his allegation that the recent dismissal of cases before the anti-graft court was due to some prosecutors accepting bribes.

“We at the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor) register our vehement objection to this unfounded and libelous statement as if he (Roque) has personal knowledge of the ‘bribery’ he claims is going on in the Office of Special Prosecutor,” Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit said in a statement.

Sulit was referring to Roque’s statement in a radio interview on Tuesday wherein the lawmaker said the dismissal of cases in the Sandiganbayan was partly because “nagkakalagayan kasi sa OSP (there is bribery in the OSP).”

“We challenge him to come out with the names of the prosecutors who are tainted with this despicable reputation in order to clear those who have guarded their character with such high standard of morality and integrity worthy of emulation,” Sulit said.

At the latter part of 2016, the ombudsman suffered major blows with the dismissal of some high-profile cases before the Sandiganbayan.

Among the cases dismissed were plunder and graft against former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the PCSO intelligence fund scam and the alleged anomalous national broadband deal with a Chinese company.

Also dismissed last year was a plunder case against former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante over the fertilizer fund scam and graft cases against former Makati mayor Elenita Binay over alleged anomalous purchase of office furniture and supplies.

Also dismissed was the graft case against Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito over the 2008 high-powered firearms purchase during his term as mayor of San Juan and graft and murder cases against Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian over the May 2015 Kentex fire.

Sulit maintained that state prosecutors do their best in every case they handle.

“The men and women of the OSP from the highest to the lowest employee have all worked very hard in the prosecution of cases assigned to them. We have maintained highest degree of competency in the preparation of our cases for trial,” Sulit said.

“Sad to state, however, that we are not in full control of the outcome of the verdict,” she added.

The OSP is the ombudsman’s prosecutorial arm tasked to handle cases against incumbent and former government officials charged before the Sandiganbayan.

Sulit claimed that despite the dismissal of some high-profile cases, the conviction rate of cases handled by the OSP for 2016 is commendable.

“Records will show that in 2016 we have garnered a 70 percent conviction rate, as against 30 percent which were unfortunately dismissed,” Sulit said.