OUTGOING Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman in their manner of gathering evidence in relation to the plunder case filed against him.
Duterte warned investigators against its alleged "leading" way of questioning some caterers and teachers on alleged misuse of the local school board fund against him.
"You better be careful," Duterte said, addressing the Office of the Ombudsman in Metro Manila in his weekly program Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa. "Kay idemanda ta gyud mo (Lest I sue you instead)."
"Do not convince people to commit perjury. I will file for your disbarment in the Supreme Court," said Duterte addressing the unnamed investigators.
Duterte and first district congressional candidate Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta are subject of an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman after a complainant filed a complaint for the alleged misuse of a P12 million local school board fund.
The fund was allegedly used in a party for teachers, however, the mayor's accusers insist the party never happened.
To this, the mayor said there were actually three parties for one thousand teachers each.
He chided those who are accusing him of pocketing the money for making such a big deal about a party for teachers saying it is but a small act on the City Government to treat 3,000 teachers one day in a year to a sumptuous dinner.
"Alangan magpakaon na lang ko og maestra, kan-on og pirit 'ra, nangimbita pa ko (If I were treating teachers, I will not give them just rice and fish)," he said.
Duterte said that he received reports that the investigating team's manner of gathering evidence was finding someone who can say that the funds were indeed pocketed.
"If I feed people, I might as well feed them well. There are three thousand teachers in Davao City, ask them about who I didn't feed. You can ask one, one thousand, or three thousand of them," Duterte said.
Perjury is a criminal offense of making false statements under oath, while disbarment for a lawyer means the revocation of his license to practice, which was original issued by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with the approval of the Supreme Court.
Duterte did not cite any specific names in the investigating team. (Carlo P. Mallo and RJ Nieto)