It’s not a crime to defend Comelec’s integrity – Guanzon

Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon yesterday afternoon formally filed her motion for reconsideration asking the Office of the Ombudsman to set aside its December 7, 2023 resolution finding probable cause in the complaint filed against her for alleged premature disclosure of confidential information.

Dylan Santos, who is Guanzon’s lawyer, told reporters that his client also asked the Ombudsman that the review of her case be transferred to another lawyer.

Guanzon did not personally appear to file her appeal as her counsel said she is feeling under the weather and nursing a cold.

“What she is praying for is fairness. To be assured that we are all treated the same. If you were the one who issued the resolution, how do you review your own work?” Santos pointed out.

The assailed Ombudsman ruling recommended the filing of two counts of charges against Guanzon for violation of Section 3 (k) of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which penalizes “divulging valuable information of a confidential character… to unauthorized persons or releasing such information in advance of its authorized release date.”

The case stemmed from a complaint filed in 2022 by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and Diego Magpantay of the Citizens Crime Watch.

In a television interview, Guanzon said she has not been officially served a copy of the Ombudsman resolution for her indictment.

“I have not yet received a copy of that resolution. But I am filing a motion for reconsideration since I have confidence in the Ombudsman’s procedures in reviewing the resolution. I only requested that the review be assigned to another lawyer, not the one who signed the ruling,” she said.

“Naniniwala naman ako sa fairness ng Office of the Ombudsman, dati naman akong nagle-lecture dyan sa kanilang MCLE (mandatory continuing legal education). Magagaling po ang mga abogado dyan (I believe in the fairness of the Ombudsman. I used to give lectures there for the MCLE. Their lawyers are good). (But) I am hoping that a new investigator will give the case a fresh look on review,” she added.

Guanzon pointed out that the Ombudsman has earlier thrown out two other complaints against