Solicitor General criticizes Ombudsman for being tool for “political harassment”

October 4, 2017

Solicitor General Jose Calida on Tuesday criticized the Office of the Ombudsman for being used as a "tool for political harassment."

“The Office of the Ombudsman is mandated to protect the people, not mislead them. (Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor) Carandang, however, willingly allowed himself to be a tool for political harassment. There is a clear case of grave misconduct on the part of DO Carandang as any publicity issued by the Office of the Ombudsman must be balanced, fair and true,” Calida said in a statement.

Carandang, in an earlier inteviews, said he has records of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bank transactions obtained from AMLC.

But Calida said the AMLC has not released any documents.

“A statement was issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) saying that it was still evaluating DO Carandang’s request to conduct an investigation on the matter,” Calida said.

“It was only then that DO Carandang backtracked and implicitly admitted his massive lie. As a frivolous excuse, he said that he was merely reading reports the media furnished him when he issued those comments. He even had the gall to claim that he observed confidentiality in the investigation,” Calida said.

“I am now showing you a letter in which AMLC categorically denies furnishing DO Carandang the said documents. As a matter of fact, the AMLC has yet to evaluate his request,” Calida stressed.

“These public statements recklessly issued by DO Carandang unfairly created the impression that he has authentic official records from the AMLC showing billions of pesos in the account of President Duterte,” Calida noted.

According to chief state lawyer, the Ombudsman failed to fulfill his mandate under the Constitution, making him liable under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

You cannot shirk away from accountability by feigning inhibition while condoning your deputy’s fraudulent actuations,” Calida said, in obliquely criticizing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who was earlier challenged by Duterte to resign, along with him. DMS