Duterte believes Sereno, Morales being used to oust him —Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte believes some "political forces" are using  Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to remove him from power, Malacañang said Monday.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said this is the reason why Duterte challenged Sereno and Morales to resign with him.

"It's his prerogative to make that call," Abella said. "The President believes the Supreme Court Justice and the Ombudsman have allowed themselves to be used by certain political forces to discredit him and his administration in order to spark public outrage and eventually oust him from the Presidency."

"In other words, he finds them suspect. And it is his prerogative to ask them to resign," Abella added.

Duterte on Saturday challenged Sereno and Morales to resign with him, days after the Ombudsman announced that it started its investigation on the alleged wealth of the Duterte family as a response to the complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch critic of the President.

Duterte also said he would not submit to the Ombudsman's investigation.

Abella insisted that Duterte still respected the institution itself, although the Chief Executive found some officials "suspect."

"He respects the institution, however, the practices of certain people, there may be suspect," he said. —KBK, GMA News