(UPDATE) THE Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of an official of the Office of the Ombudsman who was charged with taking bribes to fix cases.

The decision of the Supreme Court's Third Division upheld the rulings of the Court of Appeals and the Ombudsman that found Rolando Zoleta administratively liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Zoleta was a former assistant ombudsman for Luzon, and was also assigned at the Appeals Bureau of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

In 2017, the Internal Affairs Board Investigating Staff filed a complaint against Zoleta. alleging that he offered to help facilitate the dismissal of cases against high-ranking officials pending preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication before the Ombudsman-Luzon and the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices.

The Ombudsman found Zoleta administratively liable and ordered his dismissal from government service.

When the Court of Appeals affirmed the Ombudsman's ruling, Zoleta brought his case before the Supreme Court.

In denying the petition, the Court found that the evidence sufficiently proved that Zoleta engaged in corrupt acts.

It said Zoleta had the capability and the position to influence cases since he was tasked to handle both trial and appellate work at the Office of the Special Prosecutor. He also had other related legal duties such as serving as a member of the Commission on Audit-Ombudsman joint investigation team.

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