Solons pledge support to Morales amid Duterte’s threat
Resolution 1395 was filed following President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that he will file an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for being part of the “conspiracy” to oust him from office and for employing “selective justice.” AP/File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-six legislators have filed a resolution to show their support for the constitutional independence and integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman amid threats of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Resolution 1395 was filed following Duterte’s statement that he will file an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for being part of the “conspiracy” to oust him from office and for employing “selective justice.”
READ: Duterte to file impeach rap against ombudsman
In a resolution filed Monday, the lawmakers stressed that the Office of the Ombudsman was created under the 1987 Constitution to act as an independent body to serve as protectors of the people against the “inept, abusive and corrupt in government.”
“The framers of the Constitution intended that these independent bodies be insulated from political pressure to the extent that the absence of independence would result in the impairment of their core functions to shield it from the pressures and influence of officialdom and partisan politics and from fear of external reprisal,” the resolution read.
Twenty-one of the signatories were members of the Liberal Party:
1. Francis Gerald Abaya (Cavite)
2. Benjie Agarao (Laguna)
3. Vicente Alcala (Quezon)
4. Isagani Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte)
5. Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Island)
6. Bolet Banal (Quezon City)
7. Kit Belmonte (Quezon City)
8. Emmanuel Billones (Capiz)
9. Gabriel Bordado (Camarines Sur)
10. Raul Daza (Northern Samar)
11. Raul del Mar (Cebu City)
12. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla (Zambales)
13. Christopher De Venecia (Pangasinan)
14. Edgar Erice (Caloocan)
15. Edcel Lagman (Albay)
16. Jocelyn Limkaichong (Negros Oriental)
17. Miro Quimbo (Marikina)
18. Josephine Ramirez-Sato (Occidental Mindoro)
19. Rene Relampagos (Bohol)
20. Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas)
21. Edgar Mary Sarmiento (Samar)
Other signatories include Reps. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba (Bukidnon), Tom Villarin (Akbayan), Strike Revilla (Cavite), Lawrence Fortune (Agusan del Norte) and Rav Rocamora (Siquijor).
Duterte also announced that he is planning to create a commission that would investigate alleged anomalies at the anti-graft body.
The Office of the Ombudsman is looking into Duterte’s alleged hidden wealth.
Unfazed by the threats, the anti-corruption agency vowed that it would proceed with the probe.
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