‘Deputy ombudsman’s dismissal illegal’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV strongly condemned yesterday the dismissal of overall deputy ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang, which he said was not only illegal, but also unconstitutional. 

Trillanes echoed the position taken by recently retired ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that the deputy or special prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman cannot be removed by the president.

Sen. Leila de Lima also questioned the timing of Malacañang’s order as it appeared to have waited for Morales’ retirement.

When she was still ombudsman, Morales defied the order of Malacañang to suspend Carandang, citing the independence of the anti-graft body and the Supreme Court ruling declaring as unconstitutional Section 8(2) of the Ombudsman Act, which provides for the removal of the anti-graft court’s deputies by the president.

“Not only is this illegal and unconstitutional since the Office of Ombudsman is an autonomous constitutional body, it is also highly unethical to fire the very same person investigating him (President Duterte),” Trillanes said. 

“Up to now, Duterte cannot face this serious allegation about his hidden wealth amounting to billions of pesos of deposits; so, he is resorting to cover-up and harassment tactics,” he added.

It was reported that among the reasons Carandang was fired was because of a statement he made about how the bank records of Duterte that came from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) were more or less like the documents submitted by Trillanes in his complaint against the President.

Trillanes filed a plunder complaint against Duterte in relation to the alleged unexplained wealth he amassed when he was still mayor of Davao City.

Trillanes asked the AMLC to provide him with details of the bank records of Duterte, which was denied.

In his complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, Trillanes attached several documents purportedly containing the various deposits and transfers to alleged bank accounts of Duterte and members of his family.

Too harsh

De Lima, currently detained on various charges, told reporters on the sidelines of a case hearing before a Quezon City court that dismissal was “too harsh a penalty.”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the question of the legality of Carandang’s dismissal is best left to the SC to decide.

“He can seek redress with the courts, especially the Supreme Court. It’s his call. Whether harsh or not, if he thinks what was done to him was not justified or unjust, he is free to seek redress,” Lacson said.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said the sacking of Carandang raises questions on the sincerity of the Duterte administration in its fight against corruption.

“It shows that there are sacred cows in this campaign who should be left untouched,” Carandang said.

In an order signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Carandang was dismissed after being found “liable for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.” – With Evelyn Macairan, Christina