Latest news with #OfficeoftheOmbudsman
GMA Network
22-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
GSIS chief Veloso placed under preventive suspension by Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman has placed Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Jose Arnulfo 'Wick' Veloso and six other officials under preventive suspension without pay for six months amid its probe on the P1.4 billion deal with Alternergy. In an Order dated July 11, the Ombudsman said it 'found sufficient grounds' to place Veloso and six other GSIS officials under a six-month preventive suspension 'considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt' of possible grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and violation of reasonable office rules and regulations over the P1.4 billion stock purchase from AlterEnergy Holdings Corporation. 'The [Ombudsman's Results of Investigation] expounded that the provisions [of the GSIS Investment Policy Guidelines] were contravened by the respondents because: the Perpetual Preferred Shares were not listed with the PSE (Philippine Stock Exchange) on the dates of the execution of the agreement and the payment of the subscription, the investment was non-compliant with the Minimum Market Capitalization and exceeded the Free Float Market Capitalization Cap,' the Ombudsman said. Likewise, the Ombudsman said that the P1.4 billion worth of preferred shares were purchased by GSIS without the necessary endorsement from the Assets and Liabilities Committee (ALCO) and the Risk Oversight Committee (ROC) for the approval of the Board of Trustees (BOT). 'Their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them. [The suspension order is being issued] in order to preserve documents and evidence pertaining to this case which they have control and custody; and in order to avoid respondents' commission of further malfeasance and/or misfeasance in office,' the Ombudsman said. GMA News Online has reached out to Veloso for comment but he has yet to reply as of posting time. Meanwhile, the Ombudsman said the GSIS officials can appeal the suspension, although its immediate implementation cannot be interrupted. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ombudsman calls for amended Portland towing contract after complaints of overcharging
PORTLAND, Ore. () — An investigation has determined that Portland's inconsistent towing practices disproportionately impact some drivers after vehicle collisions. The Office of the Ombudsman launched the investigation after receiving a complaint in February that claimed Elite Towing & Recovery tried to charge a resident $1,657 to recover their vehicle from a tow yard. While the individual negotiated a fee of $920, the revealed the lower cost still represented about 40% of their monthly earnings — and they would have been charged an estimated $535 under the city's current contract with tow companies. Parents out thousands as Beehive NW closes abruptly The Portland Bureau of Transportation manages the city's tow contract, and generally advises officers to call for hazard tows in the event that a vehicle is blocking traffic. However, the ombudsman noted that Portland police sometimes opt for private request tows to help drivers following a collision. 'The police said they want to avoid a punitive citation when the motorist did nothing wrong,' the investigation reads. 'The paperwork requirements to retrieve a car after a hazard tow can also be a barrier for economically vulnerable vehicle owners who cannot readily provide a copy of the title with their name on it and proof of insurance. Many people living on the street cannot meet the paperwork requirements and lose their vehicles.' Although PBOT told the ombudsman that law enforcement is 'using a work-around that was never intended,' the watchdog maintains that the police directive doesn't prohibit officers from utilizing private requests. The ombudsman also maintained that Elite Towing is entitled to charge higher fees, as private requests are not covered by the city's contract. But investigators also noted that most other companies voluntarily keep their prices around the same cost that the city charges. Elite's median towing fee of $1,893 was almost five times higher than that of their counterparts throughout the first quarter of 2025, the report claimed. According to the ombudsman, Elite's owner defended the prices by saying the city's towing rates don't cover the actual cost of services. The owner added that other agencies, like Oregon State Police and the Clackamas County Sheriff's, charged up to three times as much as Portland officials. Portland filmmaker receives Emmy nod for Celine Dion documentary Investigators later asked Elite to comply with local contract rates and offer partial refunds to complainants, but claimed the company neglected to respond. KOIN 6 has reached out to Elite for comment as well. The ombudsman has advised PBOT to amend the towing contract to also cover private requests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Filipino Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Tulfo Urges Probe, Penalties for Gov't Officials Tied to Online Gambling
Senator Raffy Tulfo has called for a thorough investigation and strict sanctions against government officials allegedly involved in the rise of online gambling in the Philippines. In a press briefing, Tulfo stressed that public officials should act in the interest of Filipinos, not in support of businesses that harm the public. He urged concerned agencies to file complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan against officials proven to be complicit. Tulfo also announced plans to file a bill seeking a total ban on all forms of online gambling in the country, including those accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). He argued that mere regulation is not enough to curb the industry's harmful effects. He cited alarming reports of young students becoming addicted to online gambling, neglecting school, and even resorting to theft. 'It's time to step on the brakes,' he said, insisting that the social costs far outweigh potential government revenues, estimated at ₱140 billion. Tulfo expressed hope that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will address online gambling in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), calling it a pressing national issue.
GMA Network
12-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DepEd vows to cooperate with Ombudsman amid order to file graft charges vs. Briones, Lao
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday said it is fully committed to cooperating with the Office of the Ombudsman after its order to file graft and falsification charges against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones, former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lao, and several former education officials regarding the 'pricey' P2.4 billion laptops purchased in 2020. 'DepEd reiterates its full commitment to cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman in the expeditious and fair resolution of this case. The Department is ready to provide all necessary documents, information, and other forms of assistance to ensure accountability and to protect the interest of the public,' DepEd said in a statement. DepEd said it was already informed of the filing of an Information for Violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Falsification by Public Officers under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and Perjury under Article 183 of the RPC against several of its former officials. 'Officials subject of the charges no longer hold any position in or maintain any connection with the Department,' DepEd said. The laptops, priced at P58,300 each with an outdated Celeron processor, were purchased by the Department of Education for the implementation of distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was deemed 'pricey' by the Commission on Audit. 'The new bidding parameters, i.e. lower quantity and higher unit price, were reflected in the bidding documents and was used in the bidding process... These parameters facilitated the overprice and the consequent undue injury and gross disadvantage to the government,' the Ombudsman said. The Ombudsman said that the approved series of requests for extensions to deliver the laptops, requests to change payment terms, and other adjustments to the contract terms and conditions which, taken together, 'betray an unusually deferential treatment and favor towards the Joint Venture consortium.' The Ombudsman added that the DepEd supply officers often received feedback stating that the computers they had purchased were: overpriced vis-à-vis the outdated or inferior technical specifications; unable to handle multiple applications at the same time; defective or fast-draining battery; quite slow to boot-up; and immediately returned by the recipients, who opted to wait for better laptop models. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
24-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
House prosecution: Ombudsman must wait for impeachment court verdict on VP Sara
Ombudsman Samuel Martires must wait for the Senate impeachment court's verdict on Vice President Sara Duterte before deciding whether she should face criminal prosecution, the House prosecution panel said. The Office of the Ombudsman must wait for the verdict of the Senate impeachment court on Vice President Sara Duterte before deciding whether she should face criminal prosecution, as stated in Ombudsman law, the House prosecution panel said Tuesday. House prosecution panel spokesperson Antonio Audie Bucoy made the response when asked if Ombudsman Samuel Martires should defer to the Senate impeachment court in light of his ordering the Vice President to answer allegations of criminal activities. These allegations, which include technical malversation of public funds, plunder, and falsification of public documents, were first revealed during the House panel inquiry into her office's budget use, including P612.5 million worth of confidential funds from 2022 to 2023. "The impeachment proceedings is of primordial consideration," Bucoy said in a press conference. "'Yan ho ang pinakamataas na antas tungo sa [hakbang na] panagutin ang impeachable official. Under the Ombudsman Act, Republic Act 6770, meron hong dalawang provisions doon na sinasabi na ang Ombudsman ay hindi pwedeng imbestigahan ang impeachable official because sapagkat ang mekanismo na nakasaad sa saligang batas [ay] impeachment, na ang may jurisdiction ay ang Senado, sitting as an impeachment court,' he said, referring to Section 21 of the Ombudsman law. (The impeachment is the highest ranked accountability tool for an impeachable official. The Ombudsman Act has two provisions stating that the Ombudsman cannot investigate an impeachable official because the process for that is impeachment, which is under the jurisdiction of the Senate impeachment court.) 'Pangalawa, meron din diyan provision na nagsasabi kung iimbestigahan, maaaring imbestigahan ng Ombudsman ang impeachable official kapag ang layunin nito ay mag-file ng verified impeachment complaint. Yun lang ho,' Bucoy added, referring to Section 22 of the Ombudsman law. (Secondly, the same law states that if the Ombudsman will investigate an impeachable official, the goal must be to file a verified impeachment complaint. That's it.) These Ombudsman law provisions, Bucoy said, only supports the prosecution's position and the Constitutional provisions providing for the immediate start of the impeachment trial and the Ombudsman holding in abeyance any investigation on the Vice President. 'Nag-acquire na ng jurisdiction ang [Senate] impeachment court [on the impeachment complaint], [so] the Ombudsman should await the outcome of the impeachment proceedings. The Ombudsman should take a backseat and tignan niya yung ano 'yung evidence yang ilalahad during the trial,' Bucoy said. (The Senate already required jurisdiction on the impeachment complaint, so the Ombudsman should await the outcome of the impeachment proceedings. The Ombudsman should see the evidence to be presented during the impeachment trial.) 'Dapat ho, bigyan ng pagkakataon ang impeachment court na iisulong yung paglilitis hanggang ito ay matapos,' Bucoy added. (The Ombudsman should give the Senate impeachment court the chance to proceed with the trial until it reaches a verdict.) The June 19 Ombudsman order requiring the Vice President to comment on allegations of technical malversation, falsification, falsification of public documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, plunder, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution identified the House good government and public accountability panel which investigated her budget use as the complainant. The House good government and public accountability panel, however, did not file a complaint against the Vice President before the Office of the Ombudsman. — BM, GMA Integrated News
