Ombudsman to public officials: Choose politics or business, not both
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla called on public officials to have some decency and choose between politics and business instead of being involved in both at the same time. Remulla made the call as his office. . .
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla called on public officials to have some decency and choose between politics and business instead of being involved in both at the same time. Remulla made the call as his office investigates members of the House of Representatives over alleged conflict of interest, amid reports that some of them are the owners of construction firms that bag government contracts. “Itong conflict of interest, tigilan na natin. Let’s set a standard in our country of decency. Maging disente naman tayong mga tao. Tama na iyan,” Remulla said in his radio show on DZRH. He said this conflict of interest is prohibited, but there are officials who have apparently become bold in violating the law because none had been called out. He said there was a lawmaker who gave the excuse that the business was no longer in their name. But he said the Office of the Ombudsman looks at beneficial ownership. “Nakikita naman namin sa [Anti-Money Laundering Council], yung pera napupunta pa rin sa kanila,” he said. He said he is not stopping anybody from doing business. But if they want to do business with the government, they should not be in politics at the same time. “Mag-negosyo ka, gusto mo, o kaya mamulitika ka. Pero huwag natin paghaluin,” he said. The Office of the Ombudsman earlier revealed that it has started the preliminary investigation into conflict of interest complaints against two House members over their alleged links to construction firms with government contracts.