Calida slams Morales for hiding status of complaint vs Duterte

Solicitor General Jose Calida yesterday accused Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for not disclosing that the plunder complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV against President Duterte has already been “closed and terminated.”

“Ombudsman Carpio-Morales,

being the Ombudsman, must be the protector of the people. She has the constitutional duty to publicize matters covered by investigations when the circumstances so warrant and with due prudence,” Calida told reporters in Makati City.

The Solicitor General said he inquired from the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), through a letter dated Feb. 8, the status of the criminal complaint filed by Trillanes on May 5, 2016 which accused Duterte of maintaining ghost employees in Davao City that could have funded the latter’s 12.4 billion worth of deposits.

“I received a letter from [Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur] Carandang stating that the investigation has already been closed and terminated. The recommendation to terminate was approved by Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos on 29 November 2017,” Calida said. It will be recalled Carandang has been suspended by Malacanang over the unauthorized disclosures of Duterte’s alleged bank accounts.

Calida questioned the decision of Morales to withhold from the public the status of the case.

“This case involves the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Why are you withholding this information? When this case was filed, a press conference was even conducted,” he lamented.

“Three months after the termination of the case, the public has still no knowledge that the evidence supporting the allegations of Trillanes is without merit,” Calida pointed out.

Meanwhile, Calida said it remains pointless for Trillanes to hold a Senate hearing on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth and undeclared bank accounts considering these are based on the complaint filed before the OMB.