Be independent, don’t do ‘demolition job,’ Palace tells Ombudsman

Malacañang has called on the Office of the Ombudsman to maintain its independence and not get involved in a “demolition job” against President Duterte.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said they have noticed a sense of déjà vu when the Ombudsman is being used anew to discredit a dulyelected leader and sow public outrage against him.

“The Office of the Ombudsman is showing its true political

color. We must remind that it is an independent anti-graft body (that) is supposed to conduct an impartial and fair investigation,” Abella said during a Palace news conference.

“It should not play into the hands of those who cannot accept the fact that the President won in the 2016 election. It should not be party to a demolition job. We have seen this before. This is déjà vu,” he added.

The Ombudsman earlier initiated an inquiry into the President’s alleged hidden wealth in bank accounts based on a plunder complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. The President, however, has refused to cooperate with the probe after his bank information was allegedly fabricated and illegally obtained.

Abella slammed the Ombudsman for being part of a “deliberate effort” to smear the President and mislead the public about his wealth.

He noted that Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang was being “economic with the truth” when he claimed confidentiality in the investigation into the President’s alleged bank accounts.

He said Carandang’s claim that he was only reading through AMLC documents shown by the media goes “against the facts.”

Abella said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales already stated that her office stands by its word given the documents in its possession.

He added that Carandang’s claim is contrary to the earlier statement of AMLC that he sent a letter to initiate an investigation into the President’s bank accounts.

“All these confirm there is indeed a deliberate effort to discredit the President, mislead the public, and create popular outrage against duty elected Chief Executive. The public’s minds seem to be being set,” he said.

Defend Ombudsman, CHR Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo has called on the people to uphold the Constitution and defend democratic institutions such as the Office of the Ombudsman and Commission on Human Rights amid the continued attacks on these agencies.

“Kailangang galangin ang kasarinlang iginagawad ng Konstitusyon sa mga opisinang ito upang kanilang magampanan ang tungkuling panatilihing malinis at tapat ang gobyerno,” she said. (The independence given by the Constitution to these offices has to be respected so they could perform their duties to keep a clean and honest government.)

The Vice President rallied support for the country’s democratic institutions as the Ombudsman was subject to threats by President Duterte who ordered the creation of a commission that would probe alleged corruption in the agency.

“Sa gitna ng mga kasalukuyang isyung kinakaharap ng mga constitutional offices, kailangan muli ang tibay ng loob ng bawat Pilipino,” said Robredo. (Amid the current issues these constitutional offices are facing, every Filipino needs their inner strength once again.)

“Sama-sama tayong manindigan para sa ating Saligang Batas at mga demokratikong institusyon, kabilang ang isang walang kinikilingang Ombudsman,” the former housing chief stressed. (Let us all together uphold our Constitution and democratic institutions, including the impartial Ombudsman.)

Magnificent 7

Meanwhile, the Magnificent 7 minority bloc at the House of Representatives is calling on the executive branch to respect the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.

The group made the call as the Duterte administration sought the creation of a commission that would investigate the officials and employees of the antigraft body on allegations of partiality and corruption.

“The unprecedented projected investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman by a commission to be created by Duterte imperils the independence of the Ombudsman,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said. (With reports from Raymund F. Antonio and Charissa L. Atienza)