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CASES of direct bribery and violation of code of conduct of government employees were filed on Monday by the Office of the Ombudsman against a state prosecutor for trying to extort P2.5 million from unionized workers of Philippine Airlines (PAL).
In an eight-page resolution, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to pursue the cases before the Sandiganbayan against Assistant State Prosecutor III Diosdado Solidum Jr., who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an entrapment operation on August 8. Read the related story: "State prosecutor arrested for extortion."
Solidum allegedly demanded P10,000 each from 241 members of the PAL Employees Association (Palea) in exchange for the dismissal of the charges for disrupting airport services in protest of the massive job cuts in the flag carrier in September 2011.
This was later reduced to P1.2 million payable in installment.
Palea appealed with the Department of Justice after the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office found probable cause to charge them in court for allegedly violating Section 81 of the Civil Aviation Authority Act.
Complainant Gerry Rivera, who is also Palea president, said Solidum assured him in a meeting on July 29 that the charges will be dismissed if the union will pay the price of the resolution.
Rivera then reported the matter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who, in turn, ordered the NBI to conduct an entrapment operation at the vicinity of Spring Deer Restaurant along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.
Solidum was caught in the act of receiving the envelope containing the marked money.
“Our members have suffered enough injustice brought about by their illegal termination. The mental anguish caused by the trumped up charges which we believe are fruits of corruption makes justice the more elusive. Our quest for justice is now on a grind. Again, in our struggle, we will not hesitate to fight until we obtain justice,” Rivera told Sun.Star, adding he was unaware that the cases were already with the anti-graft court.
Prosecutor General Claro Arellano earlier warned all prosecutors that they would be dismissed from service if caught demanding money and/or accepting bribes in relation to a case.
Prior to the Palea incident, Arellano said there have been reports concerning Solidum’s participation in illegal activities but none of the complainants were willing to file a case against him. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
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