Palace: No sacred cows in planned probe vs. Ombudsman

AFTER President Rodrigo Duterte announced
his plan to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman, Malacañang on
Saturday said the pronouncement merely underscored that "there are no
sacred cows in the government."

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the President's remark was
 a proof of a "sad reality" that even the Ombudsman's is not spared from
 investigation into alleged corruption.

"The sad reality, however, is that the Ombudsman is not exempt from
allegations of corruption, which the President said, need to be
investigated," Abella said in a statement.

"The Ombudsman should be open to any probe that would check into alleged
 corrupt practices amongst its officials and employees to underscore
that there are no sacred cows in the Government," he added.

Amid the Ombudsman's investigation into Duterte's alleged ill-gotten
wealth, the President revealed his plan to create a fact-finding
commission that would probe the alleged anomalies within the anti-graft
body.

The Chief Executive made the announcement in an interview aired on
government-run PTV4 on Friday night.

"In the name of public interest and in the name of justice and fair
play, there ought to be a body who will investigate you also because the
 Ombudsman cannot investigate itself. Obviously, it is an anomaly," he
said.

Duterte accused the Office of the Ombudsman of being involved in rampant
 extortion activities as its personnel were allegedly compelling state
forces and public officials to pay them, in exchange of dismissal of
their respective cases.

He said the agency would be directed to open its records while its
personnel would be ordered to file affidavits.

He added that those who will not cooperate will get arrested.

"Now, if you will not attend in obedience to that summon, I will move
for your arrest, contempt of court, and will order the military or the
police to arrest you," Duterte said.

In a statement released on Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman said it
would not be threated by Duterte's warning, noting that the
investigation agaunst him will push through.

"Sorry, Mr. President, but this Office shall not be intimidated," it
said.

Duterte has been critical of the Office of the Ombudsman because of
their supposed impartiality, alleging that it was merely favoring its
allies from the opposition Liberal Party.

Despite Duterte's threat, Abella said the executive department respects
the Ombudsman's mandate to ivestigate public servants allegedly tainted
with corruption.

"We recognize that the Office of the Ombudsman has the constitutional
duty to probe erring government officials. As the protector of the
people, the Ombudsman is expected to act promptly on complaints filed
against officers or employees of the government," he said.