Opposition lawmakers back Morales, Carandang
Opposition congressmen yesterday expressed support for Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and her overall deputy, Melchor Arthur Carandang, in the wake of attacks and threats from President Duterte.
The lawmakers filed Resolution No. 1376, which seeks to convey the “sense of the House of Representatives in support” of the Office of the Ombudsman in the pursuit of its mandate as the “vanguard against corruption and to enjoin other government institutions to respect the independence of such office.”
Reps. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Edgar Erice of Caloocan City, Teodoro Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Emmanuel Billones of Capiz, Tom Villarin of Akbayan party-list and Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list signed the resolution.
Though it proposes to express the collective sense of the House in support of the Ombudsman, the chamber dominated by Duterte allies is not expected to adopt it.
Lagman and his colleagues noted that Duterte started to threaten the anti-graft body’s office and its personnel with investigation after Carandang admitted that they have obtained documents showing the bank transactions of the President and members of his family.
Carandang was even quoted as saying the transactions amounted to more than P1 billion over the years, and that the documents were similar to those exposed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who claimed Duterte has amassed more than P2 billion in ill-gotten wealth.
The opposition lawmakers said Duterte’s threat to have the ombudsman and its officials and personnel investigated undermines the constitutionally guaranteed independence of such office.
It also aims to “divert attention and conceal the truth in the bank transaction records” obtained by the anti-corruption agency, they said.
They added that the Presi- dent, other Palace officials and other government institutions should be reminded to respect the independence of the corruption watchdog and the judiciary.
Earlier, Lagman said the verbal attacks of Duterte on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Morales are a sign that the President is moving closer to being a dictator.
He said the Chief Executive is destroying independent and democratic institutions so he could control the entire government, much like what the late president and martial law ruler Ferdinand Marcos did.
Duterte has denied he has ill-gotten wealth, claiming he is willing to be shot if his lifetime savings exceed P40 million.
Meanwhile, Morales was mum on Duterte’s threat yesterday that he would file an impeachment case against her over the alleged illegally obtained documents concerning his and his family’s bank transactions.