Good news?

The Office of the Ombudsman — defined in the 1987 Constitution and empowered through Republic Act No. 6770, which is also known as the Ombudsman Act of 1989 — is supposed to stand as one of the most important institutional marks of Philippine democracy. With its fundamental role as “Protector of the People”, that body was established to guard the citizenry from abusive and opportunistic public servants. It is, ideally, the watchdog against graft and corruption.

When news comes out about government officials, especially high-ranking local government leaders, being dismissed or suspended after having been found guilty of abuse and/or misuse of power, the people should feel jubilant because that is supposed to be good news. It must mean the Ombudsman is carrying out its tasks.

But, alas, that is not the case.

Last week, a dozen officials were ordered dismissed and several suspended by the Ombudsman. The dismissal list includes Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad, Jaen, Nueva Ecija, Mayor Prospero Esquivel as well as Pasay Vice Mayor Antonio Calixto and eight Pasay councilors. Put on suspension were Batangas Governor Armando Sanchez and the mayor of Aguilar town here in Pangasinan, Ricardo Evangelista, along with two other town officials.

But did we read, hear or see on media overwhelming images and voices of people rejoicing over the supposed good news? No. Instead, we saw a lot of hostilities and politicking.

Supporters of the dismissed and suspended officials took to the streets (or more specifically, the grounds of their local government offices) to protect their leaders, some of the officials themselves vehemently refused to abide by the order and locked themselves up in their offices, and opposition leaders like Senator Franklin Drilon, a party mate of Tupas under the Liberal Party, accused the Arroyo administration of bullying tactics against its political opponents.

That Local and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who made the announcement about the dismissals and suspension at the week’s opening, had to say that the orders should not be given “political color” is a strong indication that there is something amiss with the Ombudsman’s image, and the whole administrative system of this democratic country for that matter.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, reeling from the by and large good results of the ASEAN and East Asia Summits held in Cebu, said last week, “As we gear towards the realization and implementation of all the accords reached, we call on the Filipino people to be focused on the ball and not be distracted by the empty wind of partisan politics.”

She’s right, of course. But she should be saying that in front of the mirror and to the people under her administration.

Partisan politics, after all, has been a conspicuous attribute of her term and leadership. So, expect more Pangasinan mayors to suffer a similar fate in the weeks to come.

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