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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Assistant Ombudsman responds to Estrada's claim of offer to dismiss cases

Assistant Ombudsman responds to Estrada's claim of offer to dismiss cases

Published Jun 1, 2026 10:16 pm
(RTVM/MB FILE PHOTO)
(RTVM/MB FILE PHOTO)
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Monday, June 1, said accountability and politics should never be mixed, following Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada’s claim that he was repeatedly offered a dismissal of the cases against him in exchange for leaving the Senate majority.
In a statement sent to reporters covering the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), Clavano stressed that no one can decide on behalf of the OMB regarding pending cases.
“Hindi dapat kailanman pinaghahalo ang pananagutan at pulitika (Accountability and politics should never be mixed),” he said.
“Kung may mga taong nagtatangkang palabuin ang linya sa pagitan ng dalawang ito, dapat din silang panagutin (If there are people attempting to blur the line between the two, they should also be held accountable),” he added.
According to Clavano, no individual can make decisions on behalf of the OMB regarding pending cases, as such an act may itself constitute a form of corruption.
“Walang sinumang pwedeng magdesisyon sa ngalan ng Ombudsman pagdating sa mga nakabinbing kaso, dahil ang paggawa nito ay maituturing ding isang uri ng korapsyon (No one can make decisions on behalf of the Ombudsman regarding pending cases because doing so can also be considered a form of corruption),” he said.
As such, the assistant ombudsman noted that the cases against Estrada had been under investigation for a long time and that the proceedings had been conducted openly.
“Matagal nang iniimbestigahan ang mga kasong ito. Sa katunayan, isinasapubliko naman ang bawat hakbang ng proseso (These cases have been under investigation for a long time. In fact, every step of the process has been made public),” Clavano said.
Earlier, Estrada claimed that he had been repeatedly offered a dismissal of the charges against him if he left the Senate majority.
The senator made the statement hours after he was arrested in connection with a plunder case stemming from alleged illegal budget insertions and purported kickbacks linked to Department of Public Works and Highways projects.

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