By Brian Campued
House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairperson Joel Chua on Monday admitted that he was “surprised” by the “swift” action of the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the panel’s committee report on the alleged misuse of funds in the offices handled by Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a press conference, Chua said that the Ombudsman issued an order directing the Vice President and other concerned individuals to submit their counter-affidavits, on June 19 or only three days after the Office of the Ombudsman furnished a copy of the House panel’s report.
“Medyo nagulat lang kami, but maaasahan ninyo na kami naman ay magco-comply dito. Kung saka-sakali namang mag-submit ng kaniyang counter-affidavit ang respondent, kami naman ay humihingi ng ilang palugit para makapag-submit ng aming reply,” he said, noting that the furnished copy of the panel’s report did not include yet the evidence they gathered.
Chua, who is also a member of the House prosecution team on the impeachment case against Duterte, stressed that while the Ombudsman’s action is a “welcome development”, a previous Supreme Court decision ruled that impeachable officials should be removed from office first through impeachment before criminal or administrative cases are filed against them.
“Meron pong isang kaso, ’yong Ombudsman vs. Court of Appeals, kung saan sinabi po dito ng ating kagalang-galang na Korte Suprema na ’yong mga impeachable officer gaya ng Ombudsman, bago sila makasuhan dapat i-impeach muna sila,” he pointed out.
In a media interview, House prosecutor Lorenz Defensor said he remains optimistic that the Ombudsman’s investigation will not affect their impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“I don’t see any impact on the impeachment complaint. I’m glad that the Ombudsman took action on the recommendations of the Committee on Good Government, and that’s a good sign for us.”
Meanwhile, the Senate Impeachment Court received Duterte’s Answer Ad Cautelam, asking the court to dismiss the fourth impeachment complaint against her for alleged violation of the one-year bar rule under the 1987 Constitution. (with report from Mela Lesmoras and Daniel Manalastas / PTV News)
-jpv
