DOJ should review Ombudsman’s capacity to win cases vs govt officials

by Rita Salonga  via RH News

Manila, Philippines - Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre should include in his to-do list the assessment of the capacity of the Office of the Ombudsman to win its cases filed against former and incumbent government officials.

According to Senator Koko Pimentel, the DOJ should look into the conviction rate of the Ombudsman and consider how many of their cases are being junked due to lack of strong evidence.
Pimentel made the said statement following the decision of the Supreme Court to acquit former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from her Plunder case.

The lack of evidence that will prove Arroyo’s guilt over her alleged misused on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s funds during her term as President was the reason why the Supreme Court junked the said case against Mrs. Arroyo.

Pimentel said that the DOJ should review the work of the prosecution panel because there is a possibility that the new Plunder case being prepared by the Ombudsman against CGMA may be junked again by the highest court.