The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict former Commission on Elections Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon on graft charges for “prematurely disclosing confidential information” about the disqualification of then-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Records disclose that by virtue of respondent’s position, she acquired the valuable information relating to the disqualification cases of Marcos, Jr. and she prematurely divulged such confidential information prior to the official release of the Comelec’s decision,” the Ombudsman ruling stated.
“Respondent’s contention that the information disclosed by her is not considered confidential information fails to convince,” it added.
One of the complainants, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, received the Ombudsman resolution.
Guanzon was the presiding commissioner of Comelec’s First Division handling the disqualification cases against Marcos Jr.
On Jan. 27, 2022, she told a GMA News interview that she had voted to disqualify Marcos Jr. from the elections.
The following day, she mentioned in an interview with a Rappler reporter the name of the ponente in charge of writing the resolution, then Commissioner Aimee Ferolino and discussed her separate opinion.
The Ombudsman cited Comelec Resolution No. 10685 entitled “In the Matter of People’s Freedom of Information Manual,” which states that “information, documents or records known by reason of official
capacity and are deemed confidential” and that information from proceedings “are treated as confidential or privileged.”
Let the corresponding information against her be filed with the appropriate court,” the Ombudsman said.
The Ombudsman, however, dismissed the complainants’ accusations that Guanzon violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Revised Penal Code’s Article 229 provision on the “revelation of secrets by an office.”
