(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 16, suspended several government officials pending an investigation into corruption allegations against them.
President Duterte identified those suspended as Atty. Ambrosi Basman; Atty. Rohani Basman; Amisa Lumontod; Amilquir Macabando; an ex-mayor of Marawi City; Atty. Samina Sanpaco Macabando Usman, Department of Justice prosecutor; Inquest Prosecutor Clemente Villanueva; Assistant Prosecutor Florenzo dela Cruz; Ninoy Aquino International Airport Customs district collector Ramon Anquilan; Justice Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon Sr.; director of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service at NAIA Adzhar Albani; political appointee, CIIS head Butch Ledesma; Customs operations officer Lomontod Macabando; Public Works Assistant Secretary Tingagun Ampaso Umpa; and Pasay Prosecutors Office officer in charge Atty. Benjamin B. Lanto.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte had ordered Macarambon and Umpa to resign over the allegations.
It was Lanto who approved the filing of an inciting to sedition case against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV over his remark against Duterte, whom he accused of having ill-gotten wealth.
“Sinabi ni Mr. Duterte bago lang, na pagka daw may nakitang 40 milyon pesos siya, doon sa kanyang accounts eh pwede daw syang barilin. Pwede daw syang barilin at patayin, sinabi niya ito sa mga sundalo…Ngayon, doon sa 40 milyon to 50 milyon, 21 times pumasok, ano to ha, credits ito at o kaya ay deposits, 21 times pumasok sa accounts ni Mr. Duterte kada anim na buwan…So ito ngayon sagot, kung makikita ‘to ng mga sundalo, M60 machine gun ang gagamitin sayo. Marami-rami to, mauubos magazine kung P40 million hinahanap mo, Mr. Duterte,” Trillanes had said.
According to the President, all these government officials would be investigated by the Ombudsman.
“Karami nito..I’m sorry but I said do not go into (corruption)..May mga kaso na..pero sa Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission…,” Duterte said.
