Ex-Usecs face raps before Ombudsman

Several anti-corruption groups filed complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday against former undersecretaries Adrian Carlos Bersamin of the Office of the President and Trygve Olaivar of the Department of Education.

The complaints stemmed from the alleged involvement of the two in a multibillion-peso kickback scheme linked to the flood control scandal, which purportedly implicated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

David San Juan of Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot said the group urged the Ombudsman to investigate Bersamin and Olaivar for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

“We want them to investigate possible corruption in the flood control projects, including any receipt of funds from government officials in Malacañang or their share in the kickback scheme,” San Juan said.

He said their petition relied on publicly available documents, including affidavits by former congressman Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways official Roberto Bernardo.

San Juan stressed the group would continue to pursue corruption cases, even amid the current oil crisis, noting the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s limited investigations.