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Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Primo C. Miro, et al. Vs. Cleto Abugan etc

DEPUTY OMBUDSMAN FOR THE VISAYAS PRIMO C. MIRO, GRAFT INVESTIGATOR II VIRGINIA PALANCA SANTIAGO, and GRAFT INVESTIGATOR I CHARINA NAVARRO-QUIJANO, Petitioners, versus CLETO ABUGAN, in his capacity as former Land Transportation Office Registrar, Respondent.

G.R. No. 168892 | 2008-03-24

D E C I S I O N


CORONA, J.:

The focal issue in this petition for review under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court is whether the Office of the Ombudsman is imbued with the power to directly impose administrative sanctions on erring government officials.

The assailed decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP. No. 77922[1] held that, under the Constitution, the Office of the Ombudsman's authority was merely recommendatory.

The antecedent facts as summarized by the CA:

On October 18, 1998, around 7:00 [pm], Jerry Tan parked his Mitsubishi L-300 Van, with Motor No. 4D56A-B1207, Chassis No. LO69WQZJL and Plate No. THE 541,...