Ombudsman exec ordered dismissed

In a July 30 decision inked by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Carandang was dismissed from service after he was held accountable for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

"He (Carandang) was clearly only interested to broadcast an information adverse to the President," the decision read.

"These transgressions of correspondent Carandang constitute graft and corruption, as well as betrayal of public trust, which gravely affect his fitness to remain in public office," it added.

Medialdea said Carandang's dismissal from service carries the penalties of cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, bar from taking civil service examinations, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

The decision stemmed from the administrative complaint lodged by lawyers Manuelito Luna and Eligio Mallari against Carandang in October 2017, urging the Office of the President to remove Carandang from office for divulging confidential information about Duterte and his family's alleged hidden wealth.

Luna and Maari had also sought the removal of Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman and members of the factfinding investigation team of the anti-graft body's office in Mindanao for supposed conspiracy with Carandang.

Carandang was delegated by former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate the supposed wealth of the presidential family acquired through illegal activities.

Carandang had revealed that he obtained the AntiMoney Launder Council's copies of Duterte's records of banks accounts, which were similar to documents released by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, had claimed that the President's bank transactions had amounted to P2.4 billion from 2006 to 2015.

Medialdea, however, cleared Elman and members of the Ombudsman's field investigation unit for lack of substantial evidence.

"As for [Deputy Ombudsman] Elman and the Ombudsman-Mindanao [fact-finding investigation team], the allegations and evidence in the complaint dated 3 October 2017... do not suffice to establish a finding of administrative liability. Hence, they are absolved of the charges against them," he said. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)

DAVAO