Relevant once again

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The office of the Ombudsman, led by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, recently revealed its newfound fangs when she sprung a surprise on the usually-unflappable powerhouse defense team of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona by revealing the results of an unprecedented probe into his assets. It was refreshing to see the supposedly biggest deterrent against graft and corruption in government office finally reveal how much power it actually has under a leader that has taken its mandate seriously when it tapped the resources of the Anti Money Laundering Council and the Commission on Audit, in combination with a little-noticed waiver at the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth to unlock the otherwise secret dollar bank accounts of a government official.

The reactions and apprehensions of the Senator-judges to an Ombudsman with powers they never imagined could be possible, were mostly of worry and concern. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was worried that the Ombudsman can peek into the accounts of any senator or member of the House without going to court if it found cause to do so. Sen. Gringo Honasan worried that basic rights enshrined in the Constitution may be infringed. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, wanted safeguards after likening the process to a warrantless search. Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada sounded his concerns that the Ombudsman or the AMLC could be used by a vengeful administration.

The worry and concern probably came from facing a creature that they have never encountered before: an Ombudsman who has the resolve and has found the wherewithal to probe and take action on allegations of unexplained wealth and corruption. This does not bode well for the politicians of a country where corruption has become a way of life and the Senators are probably worried of the upheaval that this Ombudsman could cause.

On the other hand, the man on the street who has no access to public funds, someone who has no business accepting bribes or favors, who may not even own a single bank account, and did not sign any waiver on any SALN; has absolutely nothing to fear from this powerful new Ombudsman. Only those who chose the path of public office as a way of enriching themselves have reason to fear Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Just when the trial of CJ Corona was doing more harm than good by teaching dishonest government officials where to hide the proceeds of their thievery, the Ombudsman finally got them to start thinking twice when it comes to graft and corruption. Now that Morales has made the office of the Ombudsman relevant once again, we hope that she can wield the newfound powers of her office properly, without fear or favor, to help rid this country of plunderers and the corrupt.*