Jalandoni resigns as deputy Ombudsman for Luzon

Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni has resigned after complaints seeking his dismissal were filed before the Office of the President. In a text message to GMA News Online late Friday, Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus confirmed that Jalandoni quit from his post "to spare the Ombudsman from further controversy." On March 21, the House of Representatives had voted to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. By May, the Senate will start hearing the impeachment cases against her. Gutierrez is accused of sitting on several corruption cases against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, including the ZTE-NBN, the Euro Generals, and the fertilizer fund scam. Usurpation of official function Last Thursday, three complaints were filed before the Office of the President against Jalandoni for usurpation of official functions and authority. "The offense committed amounts to grave misconduct and constitutes culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust," complainant Antonio Baltazar said in his affidavit. The complainant sought the dismissal of Jalandoni for allegedly abrogating and taking upon himself the function of De Jesus. He said it was De Jesus who was supposed to review and recommend the approval of a resolution on the complaint he filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. In the said resolution, Jalandoni approved the recommendation to dismiss Baltazar's complaint against Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr. and Manila Electric Co. president Jesus Francisco for graft and corruption due to a lack of probable cause. Jalandoni’s resignation came quickly in the wake of an earlier Malacañang move to change the leadership of the Office of the Ombudsman when last week it dismissed Emilio Gonzalez III from his post as Deputy Ombudsman for Military. Malacañang fired Gonzalez for gross neglect of duty related to his alleged mishandling of the case of Inspector Rolando Mendoza, who was at the center of the bloody Manila hostage incident last year. (See: Palace fires first official for August 23 hostage massacre) Jalandoni could not be contacted by GMA News Online as of posting time.—JV, GMA News