PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has challenged Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to resign with him over the many allegations being hurled against them.
"I now challenge Carpio to resign with me and itong si Supreme Court Chief Justice," he said in his speech during the oathtaking of new members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Davao on Saturday, September 30.
"Nagpapagamit tong dalawa e (These two allowed themselves to be used). Edi magresign tayo. I challenge the two -- we will go to the Congress. In a simple ceremony, we will sign a letter of resignation," he added.
Duterte accused the Ombudsman of selective justice, by prioritizing complaints filed against him than the many other complaints lodged in her office involving officials from the previous administration.
Sereno was accused by the President of being corrupt.
Duterte also hit Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang for using falsified evidence in the Ombudsman's investigation against him.
Carandang earlier requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to release information on the bank accounts allegedly owned by the Duterte family, upon acting on the complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in relation to the President's multi-billion bank accounts.
The Ombudsman said they have already obtained a copy of the evidence given by the AMLC, but the latter denied, saying no action has been made on the said request as they have yet to evaluate such.
"Itong si Carandang, tignan mo, using falsified (Carandang is using falsified evidence) knowing that the AMLC did not release," Duterte said.
Duterte further threatened to summon Carandang so that he can answer the allegations against him in relation to the alleged fake documents.
Duterte to snub Ombudsman probe
The President also said he will not cooperate with the Ombudsman.
"I will not submit jurisdiction to the Ombudsman. If we cannot decide how to do it, then I will not," he said.
Duterte has warned the Ombudsman that he would create a commission to investigate its officials in the wake of the probe that the anti-graft body is also doing against Duterte and his family's alleged undeclared billions of pesos in different banks.
The Ombudsman said it "shall proceed" with the investigation against Duterte's alleged undeclared wealth as mandated by the Constitution.
Duterte hits back
Duterte also hit the IBP over its onion-skinned remark.
"In the face of the accusations, the Ombudsman... You say that you now have evidence, you will proceed with the case yet sabi ng AMLC they have not issued any resolution to release the statement of my bank account," Duterte said.
The IBP National President Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo said last Friday, September 29, that the President should lay off the Office of the Ombudsman as it is an independent and constitutional body, which must be insulated from political pressure.
Fajardo said that politicians should not be onion-skinned and that as a public officials, they must be open to public scrutiny.
"Tapos sabihin mo sa akin do not be onion-skinned in the face of the fabrication and the illegally obtained," he added.
Duterte has since denied Trillanes’ claim that he had amassed ill-gotten wealth that would reach billions, saying his family did not have such wealth and that a huge bulk of the money deposited in his banks were inherited form his parents. (SunStar Philippines)