A disbarment case has been filed against Ombudsman Conchita Morales.
DISBARMENT CASE – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is faced with a disbarment case after ex-Manila Councilor Greco Belgica filed against her before the Supreme Court.
Based on a recent news report in InterAksyon, Belgica filed the disbarment case after the Ombudsman cleared former President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III from his alleged involvement in the issue regarding the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program or more commonly known as DAP.
According to the report, the former councilor of Manila has accused Ombudsman Morales of violating the oath that she has sworn as a lawyer due to her “questionable” ruling which absolved the former President.
Based on the news report, Belgica expressed his hope that the SC would hear the case due to its “peculiarity” although he is aware that it is only after Ombudsman Morales’ term as an official who can be impeached that a disbarment case can be filed against her.
According to the former Councilor of Manila, the DAP case that the Ombudsman has “dismissed” is a “very special case”.
Belgica expressed that if it is after Ombudsman Morales’ term that the SC would finish the hearing of the case, the Ombudsman could be disbarred while if the hearing of the case came ahead of the expiration of her term, she could be censured based on the report.
Ombudsman Morales was appointed by former Pres. Aquino during his term. She was a retired SC justice. Her seven-year term as the Ombudsman would expire in the month of July next year.
Based on a previous news report, the High Court found the releasing of the fund of the government not in line with the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s provisions.
Malversation charges has been filed against the former Chief Executive by The Bayan Muna, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kilusang Mangbubukid ng Pilipinas, and Volunteers against Crime and Corruption, and others.
According to the report, the charges were filed in the Office of the Ombudsman against former Pres. Aquino and Florencio Abad, the former Budget Secretary.
Carlos Zarate expressed that funds were taken from the forced savings of the government to finance some prioritized projects. Based on the report, he expressed that the utilization of the DAP fund has led to the Chief Justice Renato Corona’s removal from his office.