One big impeach rap vs. Ombudsman readied for November —VACC lawyer

A consolidated impeachment complaint awaits Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales when Congress resumes sessions on November 13.

Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) legal counsel Attorney Manny Luna on Sunday morning told dzBB radio that all three separate complaints from different groups will be consolidated into a "big impeachment complaint" against Morales.

Luna said that, at present, there are three separate complaints being drawn up by different groups against Morales for charges ranging from neglect of duty, selective justice, and use of falsified documents, accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.

He said the charges in the consolidated complaint include those from the families of the 44 police commandos who died in the bloody Mamasapano clash, anti-corruption group Tanggulang Demokrasya, and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 General Manager Al Vitangcol III.

Other personalities involved in the complaint include former congressmen Jacinto Paras and Glenn Chong, Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. president Atty. Eligio Mallari, and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

According to Luna, one issue included in the consolidated complaint is Morales' alleged inappropriate actions on the case filed against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the death of 44 members Special Action Force (SAF) in the Mamasapano clash.

Luna said the case originally included 44 counts of Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Multiple Homicide and 15 counts of Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Serious Physical Injuries.

But the Ombudsman dismissed this case and ordered instead to charge Aquino, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and SAF director Getulio Napenas with graft and usurpation of authority before the Sandiganbayan.

"Ang reklamo nila doon ay bakit dinismis yung reckless imprudence charges at yung finile ay yung kaso na sa tingin nila ay mukhang makakalusot si dating Presidente PNoy," Luna said.

The second issue, according to Luna, involves Morales' supposed selective justice for not acting with due diligence and for dismissing  cases of some officials.

Tanggulang Demokrasya had filed a complaint against former Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., but Luna said the Ombudsman allegedly failed to immediately act upon the case, only to dismiss it later on without notifying the complainants.

"Sa tingin nila, may inordinate delay kasi matagal bago inaksyunan. Secondly, hindi man lang sila inabiso na ito ay dinismiss. They consider as a betrayal of public trust," Luna said.

Meanwhile, the third issue involves the use of fabricated documents documents in connection with the alleged multi-billion peso hidden wealth of the President Rodrigo Duterte.

"In fact, sabi ni Presidente [Duterte], ito ay spurious, false and malicious claims. Wala namang ganung accounts," Luna said.

Luna said that the VACC already had initial talks with possible endorsers in the House of Representatives. He, however, cannot disclose names yet.

"Obvious na obvious na may kinikilingan si Ombudsman Carpio Morales especially kapag ang kaso ay laban kay PNoy or his allies. Either uupuan or tutulugan yung kaso or agad-agad idi-dismiss," he said.

Luna clarified that the complaint to be filed against the Ombudsman is not an initiative of the VACC.

"Ang initiative lang naman ng VACC ay complaint against Chief Justice [Maria Lourdes] Sereno na dinismis ng House Committee on Justice," he said.

Duterte himself said he would file an impeachment complaint against Morales, accusing her of selective justice and the use of falsified documents.

He has also threatened to investigate the Ombudsman for alleged partiality and corruption, only a day after the Ombudsman announced it had started its probe into the alleged multi-billion peso wealth of the President and his family. —LBG, GMA News