Duterte’s legal counsel warns Ombudsman exec from leaking info on president’s wealth

September 28, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte's chief legal counsel warned on Thursday an official of the Office of the Ombudsman from leaking information regarding his investigation on the Chief Executive family's alleged ill-gotten wealth.

Secretary Salvador Panelo said Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang could face administrative sanction if he continues to disclose details of the alleged bank records of Duterte purportedly obtained from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

"We remind Carandang, however, that investigatory records complied for law enforcement purposes to the extent that the production of such records deprives a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication should not be disclosed while the proceedings are ongoing," he said.

Panelo said this is expressly stated in Section 3 (f) of the Rules Implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Official and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713).

"Lest ODO ( Overall Deputy Ombudsman) Carandang forgets, violation of the foregoing provision may subject the offender to administrative sanctions," Panelo said.

But he reiterated Duterte is not perturbed by the baseless assertions of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV concerning the  alleged bank records.

"The president is already used to persistent tirades of his detractors, most especially Senator Trillanes, who has been attacking him and his family since the 2016 National Elections. As we all know, Senator Trillanes has not, as he could not, present sufficient evidence to prove his claims against the President," he said.

Trillanes has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to probe into the alleged hidden wealth of the President and his family, which later on could be used as basis to file impeachment complaint against the President.

As incumbent president, Duterte is immune from suit.

Asked when the findings of the Ombudsman could be disclosed to the public, Panelo said after the term of Duterte.

But further pressed that results of the probe could be used to impeach Duterte, Panelo said it would be up to the Ombudsman.

"It is noteworthy to mention that the alleged bank records of the president, assuming for the sake of argument that they are correct, do not necessarily indicate that he is hiding money in the total amount of more that P1 billion, and that the same is ill-gotten," Panelo said.

Citing news reports, he said the alleged amount was computed based in "in-and-out" bank transactions of the President's family through the years.

"Hence, this does not sufficiently prove that the pPresident has accumulated money in the total amount of more than P1 billion at any given time," he said.

Asked on the possibility Duterte could have channeled his money on the bank accounts of long time partner, Cielito "Honeylet" Avancena, Panelo said it was not likely that the president would do it.

In Duterte's 2016 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, Avancena was not listed as his spouse. But certain pieces of property were listed under their minor age daughter.

Panelo reiterated Duterte's statement he will resign if it is proven  he has such amount of hidden wealth.

"Such confidence only goes to show that the president has nothing to hide. Moreover, the President has been challenging his detractors to prove their accusation and not to use media to spread false news and innuendos against him and his family," he said.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio also welcomed the Ombudsman's move to probe their family.

"I welcome it so that we can finally answer all accusations in the proper venue," she said. Celerina Monte/DMS