Ombudsman vows to cut case backlog

In a bid to significantly reduce case backlog in her office, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday vowed to find the officials responsible for the delay in some cases, especially high-profile ones. In her first ever press conference since becoming Ombudsman, Morales said she will focus her seven-year tenure in cutting the backlog in her office, which currently has a caseload of 11,000 pending criminal and administrative cases. "I will not focus on the amount (of cases that will be resolved) but rather on the percentage (that will be slashed from the backlog)," she said, adding that setting a specific "target" on the number of cases she should have resolved by the end of her term "would only reduce quality." She also promised to file administrative cases against former or incumbent officials within the Office of the Ombudsman who have greatly contributed to this backlog in caseloads. "We are still trying to analyze [what caused the delay] because some cases remain dormant for years so I have asked fora statement of the case... To know where they were filed and what actions were taken," Morales said. "When we have determined the cause of the delay, and if there is reason to file administrative cases, we will do so," she added. On top of the cases to be resolved first are high-profile ones, she said. "We should not be satisfied in catching the 'small fish' as we must go after the school of 'big fish' lurking in government offices," she said. To kick start this campaign, Morales said she has already created a fact-finding committee to study the recently filed high-profile and controversial "choppers mess" case against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo ad several police officials responsible of the sale of second-hand helicopters passed off as brand-new. Morales said she has given the team one week to investigate the matter and come up with a report. The Ombudsman said she also plans on enhancing the quality of the initial stages of fact-finding or evidence-gathering teams to ensure a "high survival" rate of the cases. This enhancement would involve training field investigators in specialized techniques like forensic engineering and forensic auditing. — LBG, GMA News