GRAFT AND CORRUPTION There are no sacred cows in government, says Palace on Ombud

After President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plan to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman, Malacañang on Saturday said the pronouncement merely underscored that “there are no sacred cows in the government.”

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the President’s remark was a proof of a “sad reality” that even the Ombudsman’s is not spared from investigation into alleged corruption.

“The sad reality, however, is that the Ombudsman is not exempt from allegations of corruption, which the President said, need to be investigated,” Abella said in a statement.

“The Ombudsman should be open to any probe that would check into alleged corrupt practices amongst its officials and em- ployees to underscore that there are no sacred cows in the Government,” he added.

Amid the Ombudsman’s investigation into Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten wealth, the President revealed his plan to create a fact-finding commission that would probe the alleged anomalies within the anti-graft body.

The Chief Executive made the announcement in an interview aired on government-run PTV4 on Friday night.

“In the name of public interest and in the name of justice and fair play, there ought to be a body who will investigate you also because the Ombudsman cannot investigate itself. Obviously, it is an anomaly,” he said.

Duterte accused the Office of the Ombudsman of being involved in rampant extortion activities as its personnel were allegedly compelling state forces and public officials to pay them, in exchange of dismissal of their respective cases.

He said the agency would be directed to open its records while its personnel would be ordered to file affidavits.

He added that those who will not cooperate will get arrested.

“Now, if you will not attend in obedience to that summon, I will move for your arrest, contempt of court, and will order the military or the police to arrest you,” Duterte said.

In a statement released on Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman said it would not be threated by Duterte’s warning, noting that the investigation agaunst him will push through.

“Sorry, Mr. President, but this Office shall not be intimidated,” it said.

Duterte has been critical of the Office of the Ombudsman because of their supposed impartiality, alleging that it was merely favoring its allies from the opposition Liberal Party.

Despite Duterte’s threat, Abella said the executive department respects the Ombudsman’s mandate to ivestigate public servants allegedly tainted with corruption.

“We recognize that the Office of the Ombudsman has the constitutional duty to probe erring government officials. As the protector of the people, the Ombudsman is expected to act promptly on complaints filed against officers or employees of the government,” he said. /

The sad reality, however, is that the Ombudsman is not excempt from allegations of corruption, which the President said, need to be investigated. ERNESTO ABELLA Presidential Spokesman