MANILA — If the Office of the Ombudsman has long terminated the probe into the plunder complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV against President Rodrigo R. Duterte, why didn’t it announce it immediately?
This was the question raised by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. after Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang confirmed in a letter dated Feb. 12 that the probe was already terminated on November 29, 2017.
The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) earlier charged Carandang for “grave misconduct and grave dishonesty for misuse of confidential information and disclosing false information” on the alleged bank transactions Duterte and his family and ordered his suspension for 30 days.
“Medyo masama ang loob ng Palasyo (The Palace is slightly disappointed). Na-terminate na pala ang imbestigasyon (The investigation was already terminated) because of lack of evidence bakit di inanunsyo (why wasn’t it announced)?
Roque said that the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales should have disclosed this immediately to clear Duterte of Trillanes’ allegations.
“Dapat naman yun inanunsiyo ng Ombudsman na due to lack of evidence terminated ang imbestigasyon nang matigil na yung kontrobersiya sa diumano tagong yaman ng Presidente (The Ombudsman should have announced that it was terminated due to lack of evidence so that controversy on Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten wealth would be put to an end),” he added.
Roque pointed out that because the Ombudsman, who would be the last person the President would call his friend, junked the case, it should be laid to rest.
It may be recalled that Duterte threatened to have Morales impeached. She is currently facing an impeachment complaint before the House of Representatives.
“Pati pala po Ombudsman na alam natin na malayo sa magiging kaibigan ng Presidente ay binasura na ‘yang imbestigasyon sa ill-gotten wealth ng Presidente (Even the Ombudsman, who we know is the last person the President would call his friend was junked the investigation on ill-gotten wealth),” Roque said. ‘
Laid to rest
Roque said that now that the Ombudsman junked the pluder case, Trillanes and other critics of Duterte should find other issues to be concerned about.
“Ngayon po na lumabas na yan, malinaw naman po sa buong Pilipinas, binasura na po pati ng Ombudsman yang imbestigasyon (Now that it’s out, it’s clear to the entire Philippines, that the Ombudsman junked the investigation),” Roque said.
“Hayaan na po natin ang issue na ‘yan, humanap na tayo ng bagong issue (Let’s leave that issue and find a new issue to be concerned about),” he added.
Asked if Carandang’s 30-day suspension order affected the junking of Duterte’s plunder case, Roque said that he would leave Carandang to answer the question.
Solicitor General Jose Calida earlier slammed the Ombudsman for not disclosing immediately and suggested that it was “coddling” the complainants.
Calida said that if the case concerns the integrity of the President of the Philippines, the Ombudsman should explain first why she kept this from the public. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
