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Ombudsman files complaint vs lawyer who accused gov't prosecutors of corruption

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Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Tuesday filed a complaint at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against lawyer Edna Batacan for alleged violation of the Ombudsman Act as well as corruption of public officials. The complaint stemmed from the statements Batacan made before the Judicial and Bar Council last June 20, 2018 during her interview for the Ombudsman post.Batacan claimed the Office of the Ombudsman is a &quot;graft-ridden office&quot; where one has to &quot;shell out P50,000&quot; just to get the status of a case, which she personally experienced &quot;three times,&quot; Martires said in his complaint.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/20/18/watch-ex-duterte-lawyer-wants-to-become-ombudsman">WATCH: Ex-Duterte lawyer wants to become Ombudsman</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/18/topacio-denies-former-prosecutors-parking-fee-allegation">Topacio denies former prosecutor&#x27;s &#x27;parking fee&#x27; allegation</a></li></ul>Batacan should be held liable for violation of Article 212 (Corruption of Public Officials), he said.&quot;Under Art. 212 of the Revised Penal Code, Atty. Batacan should be held liable even if the money was demanded by the officials of the Office of the Ombudsman and Atty. Batacan’s offer was not made voluntarily prior to the demand by the officials,&quot; Martires said in the complaint. Martires also accused Batacan of violating Section 36 of the Ombudsman Act for refusing to clarify and provide details to her JBC statements.Section 36 states that any person who obstructs the function of the Ombudsman shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding P5,000.&quot;Aside from invoking attorney-client privilege, Atty. Batacan claimed in her letter that her duties to her clients obligate herself to keep in trust all information received by her in her capacity as their lawyer,&quot; Martires said in the complaint. Martires also noted that instead of substantiating her allegation, Batacan only submitted a USB containing video clips of her JBC interview.ABS-CBN sought the comment of Batacan on the complaint filed by Martires but she has yet to respond.Batacan has consistently refused to comment on the issue after her JBC interview.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Tuesday filed a complaint at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against lawyer Edna Batacan for alleged violation of the Ombudsman Act as well as corruption of public officials.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Tuesday filed a complaint at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against lawyer Edna Batacan for alleged violation of the Ombudsman Act as well as corruption of public officials.

Ombudsman files complaint vs lawyer who accused gov't prosecutors of corruption

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Ombudsman files complaint vs lawyer who accused gov't prosecutors of corruption

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 21, 2018 11:52 AM PHT

Read More:

Ombudsman

Samuel martires

Edna Batacan

corruption

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