By ARGYLL GEDUCOS
Malacañang has dismissed Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang from service months after suspending him due to his disclosure of President Duterte’s alleged bank transactions reaching P1 billion without the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) last year.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed yesterday morning that Malacañang has issued the dismissal order on July 30.
The decision also slapped Carandang with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, bars him from taking civil service examinations, and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
The decision stemmed from the administrative complaints separately filed in October by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras and former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong.
The decision stated that Carandang was only interested in broadcasting information adverse to the President.
“His keeping mum about information that was favorable to the President clearly amounted to manifest partiality,” the decision read.
Medialdea’s order also found Carandang liable for giving any party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.
Carandang was also found to have violated the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees on disclosure and/or misuse of confidential information “to give undue advantage to Senator Trillanes.”
“The transgressions of respondent Carandang constitute Graft and Corruption, as well as Betrayal of Public Trust, which gravely affect his fitness to remain in public office,” the decision read.
