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[av_heading heading=’Can Supreme Court stop Ombudsman probe into Duterte?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Monday, October 16, 2017
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MANILA – Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Sunday said he was reviewing the possibility of asking the Supreme Court to halt the investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman into the alleged hidden wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In an interview on radio dzBB, Panelo said Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang violated the law when he revealed that they will be investigating the President.
“Alam mo ang nire-react ng Presidente kasi itong si Carandang, kasi … lumabag siya sa ating batas,” said Panelo.
“Ang batas kasi hindi ka pupwedeng maglabas ng mga investigatory records ’pag meron kang iniimbestiga kasi sisirain mo iyong chance ng respondent to a fair trial. Nakasisira ka ng imahen,” he said.
The Ombudsman cannot sue a sitting president due to the latter’s immunity, Panelo said, noting that this will only affect their efficiency in performing their duties.
Panelo also clarified the doctrine on immunity from suit of a sitting president.
“Alam mo iyong Section 22 ng Republic Act 6770, sinasabi doon na meron silang power to investigate sa mga impeachable officers.
“Itong provision na ito ay labag sa doktrina na immunity from suit ng presidente kasi meron tayong doktrina na you cannot sue a sitting president … because sisirain mo iyong kanyang efficiency, pati iyong oras niya, gagawin niya ipagtatanggol niya iyong sarili niya.
“Gaya ng nangyayari ngayon, siniraan nila ang Presidente, ngayon nagpupwersa siya na ipagtanggol ang sarili niya kahit nagko-concentrate siya sa maraming problema ng bayan,” said Panelo.
All these have prompted the President’s camp to look into the possibility of seeking the help of the Supreme Court. “Pupunta kami sa Korte Suprema para patigilin sila,” he said.
Earlier Carandang said he had been authorized by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to act on the complaint of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and has already requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for a final validation on the bank transaction records of the first family.
The AMLC had denied providing the Ombudsman with documents and information related to its investigation, saying the attachment to the complaint contained “wrong and misleading” amounts.
Duterte said he won’t cooperate with the investigation of the Ombudsman. He claimed the documents the anti-graft body has obtained were “fabricated.” He also threatened to investigate the Ombudsman for alleged partiality and corruption. (GMA News)
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