Calida: SolGen to back raps vs. Ombudsman over claims on Duterte’s bank accounts

 The Office of the Solicitor General will back any one who would file cases against Ombudsman officials who claimed they had evidence as regards President Rodrigo Duterte's supposed multi-million-peso bank accounts.

According to Solicitor General Jose Calida, his office was the legal counsel of the Republic of the Philippines and was mandated to protect it from destabilization efforts.

"We would help those who would file a case because this is an insult against the government and destabilizing the presidency of President Duterte. We will not allow that," Calida said at a news conference.

He emphasized that the Office of the Ombudsman "is mandated to protect the people and not to mislead them."

Calida Duterte had the power to investigate the officials of the Office of the Ombudsman.

"Can the President order the investigation of Ombudsman officials? Yes because the president is the Chief Executive of the Republic of the Philippines and he has control and supervision over those he have appointed," Calida said.

"Of course he has the residual powers under the Constitution. Any power that does not belong to the legislative or judiciary belongs to the executive department. In fact, he can order the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and Department of Finance to conduct lifestyle checks... he can do that," he added.

Duterte has threatened to probe the constitutional body for alleged partiality and corruption.

The President said he would put up a commission that would investigate the Office of the Ombudsman's officials.

This came after Carandang said that the Ombudsman had already started a probe on the alleged multi-billion peso wealth of Duterte and his family.