President Duterte To Form Commission To Probe Partiality, Corruption In Ombudsman

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 28, said he will form a fact-finding body that will probe the possible alleged partiality, corruption and anomalies at the Office of the Ombudsman.

President Duterte made the announcement in a recorded interview with broadcaster Erwin Tulfo aired on state-run PTV4 on Thursday evening.

Ombudsman has launched a fact-finding investigation into the ill-gotten wealth allegations hurled against President Duterte stemming from the complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch critic of the President.

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang on Wednesday said that the documents submitted to them by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on the bank accounts of the President are “more or less” the same as the ones Senator Trillanes exposed to the public.

However, President Duterte was unfazed by the probe, as he warned the Ombudsman that he will dig into the alleged money making activities at the anti-graft body.

“You’ll be investigated also. One of these days, I will run after you,” President Duterte said.

“Do not fool me. Do not force my hands into it. I will set up a commission to investigate the Ombudsman, institution itself,” he added.

The President said that the Ombudsman was soliciting money from individuals under investigation to dismiss the cases lodged against them.

He also revealed that he was also a victim of Ombudsman’s alleged extortion when he was still the mayor of Davao City.

President Duterte, however, did not mention the particular case filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The Ombudsman would say there’s no corruption. To Filipinos, ask the military police, mayors, governors, who faced cases before [the Ombudsman], how much money they gave. There’s a bribe. Son of a… After giving money, the case was dismissed,” he said.

“When I was a mayor, they asked for money. I declined. I said, just file. Then the case was submitted to the Supreme Court and filed by the Ombudsman. You made me spend money only to resolve [the case, for its] dismissal,” President Duterte added.

The Chief Executive also revived his allegation that the Ombudsman was administering “selective justice” to favor the opposition Liberal Party.

He warned that there would be a “scuffle,” if the Ombudsman continues to perform illicit activities.

“If you do not investigate yourself, I will set up a commission to investigate you as a President has investigating powers. There will be a scuffle because who would investigate your irregularities?” President Duterte said. 

“What is the remedy of the Filipino if you keep on extorting money? Do not fool me. Do not force my hands into it,” he added.

Watch the video report below via PTV:

Source: PTV