Latest news with #Ombudsman
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
House panel did not file complaint vs. VP Sara before Ombudsman —spox
The House of Representatives' good government and public accountability committee did not file a criminal and administrative complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Office of the Ombudsman, the chamber said Friday. House spokesperson Princess Abante made the clarification in light of the Office of the Ombudsman's June 19 order asking Duterte to answer complaints of technical malversation, falsification, falsification of public documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, plunder, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. The Ombudsman order identified the House good government and public accountability panel as the complainant. 'Unang una, hindi ang House ang nag-file ng complaint. What the House initiated was the impeachment trial through the transmission of the Articles of Impeachment,' Abante said in a press conference. Abante said that the House only furnished Ombudsman Samuel Martires a copy of the recommendations of the panel resulting from its inquiry on the budget use of Vice President Duterte, including the disbursement of confidential funds. 'The committee report was furnished to the Ombudsman, they received it on June 16. So, it appears that the Ombudsman acted upon the recommendation of the committee. What I know is that the House or the committee itself did not file any complaint but it appears that the Ombudsman acted upon the recommendation,' Abante added. The law gives the Ombudsman the authority to conduct a motu proprio investigation, meaning it can decide to investigate allegations of corruption without a complaint filed. Asked if the House finds it suspicious that the Ombudsman identified it as a complainant even if the Ombudsman has the authority to initiate a probe even without a complainant, Abante responded with another question. 'Bakit nga, di ba? Pero again, ang sasagutin ko lang sa inyo, 'yung factual na meron ako,' Abante said. (I also wonder why. But again, I can only answer your questions based on the facts that I have.) On Thursday, the Office of the Ombudsman directed Duterte and nine others from the Department of Education and Office of the Vice President to respond to the charges filed by the House of Representatives in connection with the alleged misuse of confidential funds. On Friday, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed receipt of the order issued by the Ombudsman. Martires was appointed Ombudsman by the Vice President's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, back on July 26, 2018. Martires' seven-year tenure as Ombudsman ends on July 26 this year. The impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte is expected to start once the 20th Congress opens on July 28. Abante said the House does not see the Ombudsman's move as something that will derail the impeachment trial of the Vice President. 'The House transmitted the articles of impeachment already. We are awaiting for the Senate to act on its duty to proceed with the impeachment trial. That is what we are focusing on,' Abante said. The Vice President is accused of betraying public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution over confidential fund misuse and threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his family. The Vice President has maintained that she has never misused public funds. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sara Duterte's office receives Ombudsman order on confi funds raps
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Friday confirmed receipt of the order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the alleged misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte and nine other officials. The OVP said it received the order at about 9 a.m. Friday, June 20. The Ombudsman has given Duterte and the other respondents ten days from receipt of the order to file their counter-affidavits "together with the affidavit/s of their witness/es, and other supporting documents." The order, which was issued Thursday, came after the House of Representatives filed a complaint against Duterte and several others for plunder, technical malversation, falsification, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution, a source told GMA Integrated News. The complaint stemmed from the recommendation of the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability to file charges against Duterte for the alleged misuse of P500 million in confidential funds of the OVP, and P112.5 million in confidential funds of DepEd from 2022 to 2024. Earlier on Friday, the OVP said Duterte would be traveling to Australia for a personal trip and to join a June 22 protest action in Melbourne calling for the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. Aside from Duterte, the other respondents in the Ombudsman's order are: OVP Atty. Zuleika Lopez, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, Assistant Secretary Assistant Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nolasco, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group Colonel Raymund Dante Lachia, Commander, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, Philippine Army DepEd Edward Fajarda, Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, Special Disbursing Officer Assistant Secretary Atty. Sunshine Charry Fajarda, Director for Strategic Management Office Retired Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Undersecretary for Administration Annalyn Sevilla, Undersecretary for Finance Service The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The seven articles of impeachment against Duterte included allegations of malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents; and bribery and corruption in the DepEd during her tenure as Education secretary, involving former DepEd officials. The Vice President has denied the allegations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
New Paper
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Ombudsman lays down the law in Prince of Wales
ASCOT Father-and-son training duo John and Thady Gosden celebrated a big-race double on Day 2 of Royal Ascot on June 18 with Ombudsman landing the £1.06 million (S$1.83 million) Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes (2,000m). The feat came one day after their superstar Field Of Gold destroyed his rivals in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes (1,600m) on the first day of the five-day meeting. Ombudsman's jockey William Buick held his nerve when looking for a gap through a wall of horses as the race reached its climax. However, the Norway-born jockey found a way round and then stormed clear to give the Gosden stable a sixth win in the race. Having endured a tough time, Buick, 36, released his pent-up emotion, punching the air in delight as he steered the $42 outsider past the post. "It has been a difficult few days," said Buick. "I have got a little bit of experience, so I try and stay level. "I have a lot of good rides. You look forward right?" John Gosden, for whom it was a 70th Royal Ascot winner, said Buick had been "patient and rewarded". Earlier the Gosdens had enjoyed a record-extending sixth win in the £225,000 Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m). Top Australia-based New Zealand jockey James McDonald swooped to win on Crimson Advocate ($38). "Absolutely delighted, pleasure to ride a winner for the group (the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing for whom it was their third winner of this year's edition)," said McDonald, recording his fifth Royal Ascot winner. "I am very lucky to be jogging on the right spot at the right time. "Even when you do not have a fancied horse in a race here it is a very special, elegant and graceful place to ride at." Earlier, Aidan O'Brien ticked off one of the rare races missing from his win list, True Love winning the opening £150,000 Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (1,000m) in fine style. It was the 55-year-old Irish master trainer's 93rd Royal Ascot winner, English multiple-champion jockey Ryan Moore's 87th. AFP
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé to release Annual Report on Wednesday, June 25
TORONTO, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ - Ombudsman Paul Dubé will publicly release his Annual Report on Wednesday, June 25 at 11 a.m., after it is tabled with the Legislative Assembly. The report covers the work of the Ombudsman's Office during the 2024-2025 fiscal year (from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025), including updates on investigations, trends in cases, and case summaries. Ombudsman Dubé will hold a press conference about the report at the Queen's Park Media Studio on June 25 from 11 to 11:30 a.m., in which journalists can participate in person or by phone. The press conference will also be streamed live on the Ombudsman's website – . The report, press release, highlights and Mr. Dubé's opening remarks will be posted on the Ombudsman's website at 11 a.m. and shared via social media. Ombudsman staff will be available to answer questions from journalists on background prior to the press conference in Committee Room 1 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Accredited journalists who wish to participate in the press conference and obtain an embargoed digital copy of the report 90 minutes in advance are asked to send an email request before Tuesday, June 24 at 3 p.m. to: Aussi disponible en français SOURCE Ombudsman Ontario View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince William's urgent promise to Kate before she pulled out of Ascot
The Princess of Wales is balancing her recovery from cancer with attending public engagements - and the heir to the throne is right by her side every step of the way Princess Kate left royal watchers concerned this week when she withdrew from the Royal Procession on the second day of Ascot. The princess seemed to pull out of the event at the eleventh hour but Buckingham Palace sources were quick to reveal this was due to an administrative error. The Duchess of Cambridge announced her cancer diagnosis back in March 2024 following abdominal surgery that January. Kate then took time out of the public eye as she underwent preventative chemotherapy and at the start of the year, announced she was in remission from cancer and focussing on her recovery. The royal recently made public appearances at Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter service and there was expectation she would accompany Prince William to the Berkshire racecourse in the traditional carriage procession from Windsor Castle this week. But Palace sources went onto say that while Kate was "disappointed" not to attend, finding the right equilibrium in her schedule was crucial for her recovery. Prince William has also been keen to find the right balance between carrying out public engagements and supporting his wife. When he visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity in Surrey, last year he promised a member of staff he would "look after" Kate as she urged him to "take care" of her. "I will do, I will," William said repeatedly, during the discussion with Rachel Candappa, which saw him place his hand on her shoulder. William, Kate and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had previously retreated to the family home Anmer Hall in Norfolk when she shared her cancer news in an emotional video. Last weekend, the family of five marked Father's Day with two photos shared on the couple's social media account, with the accompanying caption reading: "Happy Father's Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L" along with a heart emoji. And while Kate, who is now in remission, has been focussing on her recovery, she has been working on passion projects including her Early Years Initiative. The mother-of-three spent time studying research on improving the lives of babies, with The Princess's Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood funding a four-month long trial of a baby observation tool which could be used by health visitors to improve how they spot signs of social and emotional development in young children. Back to Royal Ascot's second day and in his wife's absence, William travelled in the first royal carriage alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud. Donning a traditional morning suit, he awarded Billy Lee, rider of Ombudsman, the winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes, with a trophy. The five-day event in Berkshire is expected to attract a total of 250,000 spectators with extravagant fashion on display at today's Ladies Day.
