Ombudsman: Wind up probe of Mike Arroyo in seven days

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday said she has given a fact-finding team one week to evaluate the complaint filed against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several police officials implicated in the controversial choppers deal. "I have constituted a team to conduct a fact-finding investigation, composed of a special prosecutor and a director. I gave them seven days to wind up a fact-finding investigation or by Friday (October 21)," Morales said in her first press conference since she assumed her post last July. The Ombudsman added that she would prioritize the resolution of high-profile cases during her term. "We should not be satisfied in catching the 'small fish' as we must go after the school of 'big fish' lurking in government offices," Morales said. To kick-start this campaign, she said major reforms are being undertaken to stamp out corrupt practices in the Office of the Ombudsman, but added that this will take some time. In her opening speech, Morales said, "We should abandon the culture of corruption, and breaking the culture of impunity cannot be done overnight." According to her, "drastic changes are being polished" to reform the Office of the Ombudsman. "There is a need to improve public perception... In improving public perception, there is no substitute for doing one's job well," she added.

The new Ombudsman's statement came several months after scandals involving its top officials rocked the primary agency that investigates cases involving government funds and personnel. Last February, Malacañang sacked deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III after he was implicated in an extortion complaint by disgruntled policeman Rolando Mendoza who took hostage Hong Kong tourists last year before killing them. In May, former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned shortly before the start of a Senate impeachment trial looking into allegations that she sat on cases involving the Arroyo family. Complaint from senators Last Thursday, three senators filed a complaint against Mr. Arroyo, former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and some Philippine National Police (PNP) officials for allegedly conspiring to sell second-hand helicopters passed off as brand-new to the PNP in 2009. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had earlier filed separate plunder charges against 17 people, including Mike Arroyo, in connection with the choppers mess. The camp of Mr. Arroyo has described the latest complaint before the Ombudsman as "another round of Arroyo bashing" by the Aquino administration. "This does not come as a shock, this has been their finding even before they started the [Senate] 'probe,'" Mr. Arroyo said in a text message to GMA News Online. He said the whole investigation "had not been in aid of legislation but a charade to indict us without any solid piece of evidence." Mr. Arroyo added that he is prepared to dispute the findings in court. In their three-page letter to Ombudsman Morales, Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Koko Pimentel, and Panfilo Lacson referred for preliminary investigation the findings of the Senate blue ribbon committee on the choppers deal. The senators said Mr. Arroyo and the following violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act:

Ronaldo Puno (former secretary of the DILG and chairman of Napolcom)

Jesus Versoza (former police director general, Philippine Narional Police)

PDIR Luizo Cristobal Ticman (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDIR Ronald Dulay Roderos (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDIR Romeo Capacillio Hilomen (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDIR Leocadio Salva Cruz Santiago Jr. (member, PNP negotiation committee)

PDG Jefferson Soriano (member, PNP bids and awards committee)

PCSUPT Herold Ubalde (member, PNP bids and awards committee)

PDIR George Piano (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PCSUPT Luis Saligumba (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PCSUPT Job Nolan Antonio (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PSSUPT Edgar Paatan (member, PNP inspection and acceptance committee)

PSUPT Ermilando Villafuerte (legal officer, PNP bids and awards committee)

PSUPT Roman Loreto (legal officer, PNP bids and awards committee)

Miguel Coronel (commissioner, Napolcom oversight committee)

Oscar Valenzuela (assistant secretary, Napolcom oversight committee)

Conrado Sumanga, Jr. (director, Napolcom oversight committee), and

Crisostomo Garcia. — LBG/RSJ/YA/HS, GMA News