Impeachment plaint filed vs Ombudsman

- Various groups led by Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (Vacc) filed on Wednesday, December 13, an impeachment case against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

In the complaint, Morales was accused of betrayal of public trust for her "malicious acts and disclosures" which confirmed that the Ombudsman is in possession of the Duterte family's bank accounts.

The verified complaint has yet to be endorsed by congressmen.

According to Paras, at least five congressmen have committed to endorse the impeachment case.

Last September, Overall Deputy Speaker Arthur Carandang said the Ombudsman has in its possession the bank accounts of the President's family from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)

Carandang said these records could prove that the Duterte family had amassed ill-gotten wealth amounting to billions of pesos.

Days after, the AMLC said they had never released copies of the said bank accounts to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Morales, when sought for reaction, stood by Carandang's revelation.

According to the complaint affidavit, Morales conspired with Carandang to make it appear that Duterte family members are corrupt.

"Morales is in conspiracy with Carandang in making illegal and irresponsible statements to the public on the falsified and spurious bank transactions of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Duterte family," read the complaint.

The complainants said the acts of Morales constitute betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption.

Morales was also accused of practising "selective justice" and of being biased for acquitting former President Benigno Aquino III in the cases related to the death of 44 Philippine National Police Special Action Force in the Mamasapano clash in January 2015 and the cases in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

She was further accused of culpable violation of the constitution "for failing to act on complaints to the great prejudice of the Filipino people."

Complainants aside from Paras and the VACC are: relatives of the fallen Philippine National Police- Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) namely: Felicitas Nacino, Edna Tabdi, Julie Danao and Leo Balicdan; Tanggulang Demokrasya Inc. (Tandem) represented by its chairman Evelyn Kilayko and its president Tersita Baltazar; Vanguard of the Philippines Constitution Inc. (VPCI), represented by Eligio Mallari; Al Vitangcol III, Juan Rana and former congressman Glenn Chong.

The House committee on justice, which will tackle this complaint once endorsed by congressmen, is currently deliberating on the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.