Duterte’s threat to probe Ombudsman just his form of defense —solon

A party-list lawmaker on Monday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman for its alleged partiality and corruption, saying it was only the President's "form of defense."

"Ito ang porma ng depensa ng pangulo, we have to respect that," said AKO BICOL party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe in a press conference, adding he believes Duterte is entitled to all kinds of defenses available under the law.

"May akusasyon sa kanya, may depensa siya. You cannot just accuse anybody pagkatapos mananahimik 'yan," he said.

In a taped television interview last Thursday, Duterte said he would create a commission to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman.

The pronouncement came a day after the Ombudsman said it has started its investigation on the supposed questionable wealth of the President and his family after it found Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's complaint with sufficient basis.

Batocabe said it is not Duterte's character to remain quiet in the face of accusations.

"Ang problema lang kasi, 'yung mga nakalipas na lider, nananahimik kapag may nag-aakusa, damage control. Itong pangulo, iba. Kapag inakusahan mo siya, atake siya," he said.

"'Wag mong akusahan ang presidente kung ayaw mong magdepensa siya ng ganyan. Ang gusto ko lang sabihin, right niya yun na magdepensa sa sarili niya," Batocabe added.

Batocabe said it is well within the power of the President to create a commission that would investigate the alleged irregularities in the Ombudsman.

The commission, however, is merely a "fact-finding" body which can also collect information that can be used in filing an impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman, he said.

"Walang problema. Gumawa ang presidente [ng commission]. Maghanap, magkalap ng ebidensya, pagkatapos yan ang gawing basehan para mag-file ng impeachment complaint dito sa Kongreso," Batocabe said.

For his part, ABS party-list Representative Eugene Michael De Vera said the rift between the President and the Ombudsman is a "healthy" exercise of checks and balances.

"Makikita natin yung checks and balance kasi at least yung Presidente, hindi naman laging sinusunod ng Ombudsman. Kung may issue sa Presidente, pwede niyang imbestigahan pero hanggang imbestigasyon lang ang pwedeng gawin ng Ombudsman kasi impeachable officer ang presidente," he said.

"Ganun din si Presidente. Kung iimbestigahan niya ang Ombudsman, hanggang imbestigasyon lang din yun as far as Ombudsman Morales is concerned kasi impeachable siya. So pwedeng i-endorse sa Kongreso pareho yan," he added.

The Office of the Ombudsman, however, remains unfazed by the threats of Duterte, saying it would push through with its investigation. —KBK, GMA News