Duterte can create panel to investigate Ombudsman —lawmaker

President Rodrigo Duterte can create a commission to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman due to his "residual powers", a party-list lawmaker said Sunday.

Kabayan party-list Representative Harry Roque also said in an interview over radio dzBB that the panel that will be created can recommend to Congress the impeachment of Ombusman Conchita Carpio Morales.

"Yung residual powers ay kung ano man yung kapangyarihan na hindi nakasaad sa Constitution. 'yan ay kapangyarihan ng Presidente at ang pagbubuo ng commission pupwedeng gawin ng Presidente 'yon," Roque said.

He clarified that the body has no power to oust the Ombudsman, which is an impeachable position.

"Ang issue, ano lang ang magagawa ng Commission? Dahil ayon sa Saligang Batas, ang tanging pamamaraan na paalisin ang Ombudsman ay sa pamamagitan ng impeachment.

"Ang pupuwedeng gawin lang ng commission ay magrekomenda sa Kongreso na i-impeach ang Ombudsman kapag meron silang nakalap na ebidensiya,"  Roque added. 

Last week, Duterte threatened to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged "partiality and corruption."

This came after the Ombudsman announced that it had started its probe into the alleged multi-billion peso wealth of the President and his family after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's complaint was found to have sufficient basis.

In reaction, Duterte said, “You have to be investigated also. One of these days, kayo ang sigurado kong hahabulin dahil nga sa partiality ninyo. ‘Pag hindi ninyo imbestigahan ang sarili ninyo, ako ang mag-set up ng commission to investigate you as a President with investigating powers." 

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang said that he had been authorized by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to act on the complaint of Trillanes and has already requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council for a final validation on the bank transaction records of the first family. —LBG, GMA News