Duterte’s remarks vs. Office of the Ombudsman unconstitutional, says lawyer

A legal expert on Sunday said that President Rodrigo Duterte's latest remarks against the Office of the Ombudsman, including his threat to investigate the agency, are unconstitutional.

"Unconstitutional 'yan pag ginawa niya 'yan kasi malinaw 'yung independence ng Ombudsman," said Professor Tony La Viña in a 24 Oras report by Jam Sisante.

"It's a clear threat, a clear intimidation of a Constitutional body that's actually mandated to investigate corruption, investigate the wrongdoing of the government, including the President," he added.

Duterte threatened to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged partiality and corruption following its announcement that it has begun a probe into the wealth of the President and his family—after finding Senator Antonio Trillanes' complaint to have sufficient basis.

In a speech on Saturday, Duterte also told Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang, who is heading the case, "[M]agdasal ka lang Carandang. I'm not threatening you. 'Pag ka nagka-leche leche ang Pilipinas uunahin kita."

The President said he would not submit to the jurisdiction of the agency, and  maintained that his supposed bank records containing millions of pesos are fake.

Meanwhile, Trillanes called on Duterte to stop taunting his critics and instead answer the accusations against him.

"Para naman kay Mr. Duterte, tigilan mo na ang mga paninindak mo sa mga taong tumitindig para sa tama at para sa katotohanan. 'Wag ka magtago sa kapangyarihan ng president," Trillanes said in a statement.

"Magpakalalaki at harapin mo ang mga paratang sa 'yo. Kung wala kang tinatago, pumirma ka ng waiver para malaman ang katotohanan," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News