Paras urges House members to endorse impeach rap vs. Ombudsman Morales

Former Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto "Jing" Paras on Thursday called on members of the House of Representatives to endorse already the impeachment complaint he filed against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, after she defied to implement the suspension order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang.

"I appeal to the Speaker of the House, the members of the House of Representatives na dapat i-endorse na po sana yung impeachment complaint," Paras, who was recently appointed undersecretary for labor, told reporters at a press conference in Quezon City.

"Ito yung pagkakataon na mapapanagot natin itong [si] Carpio-Morales for defying the orders of a duly-responsible office, which is the Office of the President," he added.

On Monday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Office of the Executive Secretary has formally charged Carandang with grave misconduct and grave dishonesty for the unauthorized disclosures of the alleged bank transactions of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family and put him under a 90-day suspension.

Morales, however, said she will not enforce the suspension order, saying that it is an "unconstitutional" disciplinary action.

Paras said it was their camp that filed a motion to the Office of the President to issue a preventive suspension order on Carandang.

"If you remember, kami po ang nag-file ng complaint. Dumaan ito ng due process. Nung October 13, 2017, hinabla namin itong si Melchor Carandang for unduly violating existing laws," he said.

"Finollow up namin, nag-file kami ng motion na habang nandiyan siya, dapat ma-prevent siya na gagalawin ang mga dokumento. Kaya nag-file kami ng motion to issue a preventive suspension order against him at yun ay base sa mga dokumento, nag-decide ang Office of the President na patawan siya ng suspension in the meantime that the main case," he said.

It is for this reason, Paras said, that the statement of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that Malacañang is bullying Carandang is wrong.

"Kami po ang nag-file ng kaso. Ang Malacañang, nag-iimbestiga lang po. At base sa due process, pinasagot naman nila si Carandang at nagpataw sila ng suspension," he said.

"Para sa akin, ang ating Kongreso na mga kakampi ng ating Pangulo, ako po'y humihikayat sa kanila na pirmahan na yung complaint na nakabinbin sa Office of the Secretary-General para mapapanagot natin itong Carpio-Morales who is very arrogant, who is always imploring selective justice in her decisions para mapanagot siya lalo na ngayon na dine-defy niya ang proper order from a duly-constituted body which is the Office of the President," he added.

Paras, along with Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution president Atty. Eligio Mallari on December 13, 2017 submitted an impeachment complaint against Morales at the House of Representatives, with no endorsers.

To date, Paras said no House member has yet to endorse the said complaint. — RSJ, GMA News