Who is Melchor Carandang, the deputy ombudsman dismissed by Duterte admin?

The Supreme Court (SC) recently voided the dismissal of then overall deputy ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang following his investigation into the wealth of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family.

The SC Third Division affirmed the Court of Appeals' ruling that voided, "for lack of jurisdiction," the decision by Duterte's Office of the President (OP) sanctioning Carandang.

The high bench likewise voided the OP's decision dated July 30, 2018, which found Carandang administratively liable for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust, and dismissed him from public service.

Caradang took his oath of office as overall deputy ombudsman in October 2013.

He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Ateneo de Manila University.

Carandang then obtained his law degree at the University of Sto. Tomas and his Master of Laws degree at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

Before he was appointed overall deputy ombudsman, Carandang became senior planning officer, assistant ombudsman, and investment ombudsman.

From January 2014 to November 2016, Carandang served as acting special prosecutor.

Malacañang dismissed Carandang in 2018, where he was slapped with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, bar from taking civil service examinations, and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Carandang was found liable for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust after he disclosed in September 2017 the alleged bank transactions of Duterte and his family in the course of the anti-graft body’s probe into their supposed ill-gotten wealth.

He was also accused of trying to destabilize the administration and siding with opposition senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who had asked the Ombudsman to look into the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Dutertes.

With the 28-page decision made available to the public on Saturday, May 2, 2026, "Carandang is entitled to all retirement benefits effective upon the expiration of his term. He is likewise entitled to receive the salaries corresponding to the period of his preventive suspension and dismissal, but only up to the end of his term."

It also struck down the June 14, 2019 order of then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires, which was carried out "(p)ursuant to the Decision of the Office of the President," that directed Carandang to cease and desist from performing powers and functions of his post, which was likewise declared vacant.

Carandang's term as overall deputy ombudsman expired in 2020. —KG, GMA News