10 May 2005—The Office of the Ombudsman will prioritize 15 corruption cases. Topping the list are the President Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. Case, Tax Credit Scam Case, and the DPWH Vehicle Repair Scam Case. Though there are over 30 corruption cases which are targeted by Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, his office will initially focus its investigation and prosecution on the first 15 cases:

1. THE PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL BLVD. CASE
2. TAX CREDIT SCAM CASES
3. DPWH VEHICLE REPAIR SCAM CASE
4. PCGG CASES
5. PEA-AMARI SCAM
6. RSBS CASES
7. JOEY MARQUEZ CASE
8. DUMANCAS CASE
9. MACAPUGAY CASES (Ozone Disco and Manor House Fire)
10. MAJ. GEN. CARLOS F. GARCIA CASES
11. GENERAL EDGARDO ESPINOSA CASES
12. ROMEO G. PANGANIBAN CASES
13. PNP CHIEF CESAR NAZARENO CASES
14. SALVADOR PLEYTO CASE
15. BUREAU OF CUSTOMS CASES

Aside from improving case handling, the Ombudsman has also been dismissing and suspending officials involved in corruption. To date, the OMB has dismissed 11 Bureau of Internal Revenue officials and preventively suspended five of its employees. In the Bureau of Customs, seven officials have been dismissed while eight have been suspended and are being investigated. In an effort to build strong cases against corrupt officials, the Coalition Against Corruption through the Transparency and Accountability Network is likewise supporting the Ombudsman in its lifestyle check program.

< Back to Graft Busters main page