Separate decisions by Tanodbayan Simeon Marcelo in 2004 and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in 2012 have cleared former House Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella of the plunder complaints being “resurrected ” by his critics.
Mayor Jimmy Deleña of Presentacion, Camarines Sur was reacting on Thursday to the “tired, old lies being dug up against the Fuentebellas with the elections in 2016 just around the corner.”
“How many times would they flog a horse that’s been dead for over a decade now? Once, twice? Or is it sky is the limit since they have no shame whatsoever?” asked Deleña.
Deleña said that a political opponent of the Fuentebellas has again resorted to using his minions to file a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“By filing the complaint, they hope to give their falsehoods and fabrications a veneer of legitimacy that would, however, not stand even a perfunctory scrutiny,” Deleña said. “It doesn’t matter to them that Tanodbayan Marcelo and Ombudsman Morales had already found the charges against the Fuentebellas to be without basis.”
The mayor said the Fuentebellas have refused to dignify with a response the latest complaint save for a dismissive quip made by the former Speaker.
“Their barefaced lies had already been exposed ad infinitum. The records and documents of the dismissal of their rehashed complaints are there for all to see,” Deleña quoted Fuentebella as saying.
According to Deleña, Fuentebella believes Filipinos have already gained political maturity to “see through political muck-raking being camouflaged by a mere complaint.”
“It’s easy for any Tom, Dick and Harry to file complaints, but it’s another thing making those charges stick,” said Deleña.
