Palace, DOJ: Up to Ombudsman to investigate Acosta

MANILA, Philippines — The Palace and the Department of Justice are leaving the investigation into corruption allegations against Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte does not interfere with the mandate of constitutional bodies, which include the Office of the Ombudsman.

 “If there is a case at the ombudsman, then let the ombudsman do its work,” Panelo, who is also the presidential chief legal counsel, said.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Commissioner Greco Belgica of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission said the body is conducting lifestyle checks on top officials of certain government agencies.

"For officials that fall under Salary Grade 26 and up, that will be given to PACC for proper investigation and submission to the President and the ombudsman," he said.

Acosta, in an interview in 2011, said her level is Salary Grade 31.

Ombudsman complaint

Unnamed PAO lawyers reportedly urged the ombudsman to investigate and suspend Acosta and forensics chief Erwin Erfe of scheming to receive extra budget.

The lawyers reportedly sought to supplement an earlier filed complaint against Acosta by a certain Wilfredo Garrido Jr. who accused PAO chief of illegally creating its forensic laboratory and manufacturing evidence for a Dengvaxia complaint.

READ: How the Dengvaxia scare helped erode decades of public trust in vaccines

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra meanwhile said the DOJ will leave it up to the anti-graft body to look into the anonymous allegations against Acosta.

"What I know is that there is already a case filed by a certain Mr. Garrido, against the PAO chief and it’s pending investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman," Guevarra said.

"So this request of some anonymous PAO lawyers for I think suspension, in the meantime, of the PAO chief, we will leave that to the Office of the Ombudsman," he added.

On the issue that PAO chief Acosta committed corruption, Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says he will leave it to Ombudsman Martires to investigate. | @EZMacairan

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) August 15, 2019

PAO is an attached agency of the DOJ, but it remains an independent and autonomous office. 

Acosta still has Duterte's trust

Panelo also said that it is up to Acosta to leave the office while the investigation is ongoing.

The presidential spokesperson said that Duterte continues to trust his officials if there is no probable cause to hold them accountable. 

Guevarra said that from what he was told, the complaint is already in the preliminary investigation stage. — Kristine Joy Patag with a report from The STAR/Evelyn Macairan