Palace says Ombudsman has constitutional power to open any bank account, including Duterte’s

February 22, 2018

The Office of the Ombudsman has the constitutional power to check all the bank accounts, including that of President Rodrigo Duterte's, Malacanang said on Thursday.

But since the Ombudsman already ended its probe against Duterte's alleged ill-gotten wealth, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated the allegation has "no basis in law or in fact."

"As far as the Palace is concerned, the Ombudsman has the Constitutional power to open any and all bank accounts which, it did during the time of impeachment of (late) Chief Justice Renato Corona," he said.

Corona was ousted as chief justice after the Senate impeachment court found him guilty of betraying public trust and committing culpable violation of the Constitution in 2012.

"The junking of the complaint only proved that the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the president, PRRD, has no basis. No basis in law or in fact," Roque said.

The Ombudsman, however, said earlier it terminated the investigation on the complaints against Duterte's and his daughter's, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, alleged ill-gotten wealth after the Anti-Money Laundering Council "declined to provide a report or confirmation on the requested vital data."

The anti-graft body said the complaints, which were filed by opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, could still be revived if there is new or additional evidence against the president's alleged ill-gotten wealth. Celerina Monte/DMS