(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said that impeachment complaints would be filed against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Duterte said the grounds for the impeachment case against Morales would be “selective justice,” for failing to act on cases involving mostly members of the Liberal Party, and “falsification of documents.”
Duterte was referring to what he said were “falsified” documents on the President’s family’s bank history transactions, which the Ombudsman said would be used in its probe of the chief executive’s family’s wealth.
The Ombudsman earlier said they had retrieved the documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, but the AMLC later denied they had given any such document to the anti-graft body in the first place.
SALN
As for Sereno, he said that the Chief Justice did not include what he said were exorbitant fees she received from the government as a lawyer in the Philippine International Air Terminals Company case in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
“Ang kliyente niya, pinadugo niya,” he said.
He also called her out for her supposed penchant to stay in luxury hotels when she travels abroad, and for her alleged purchase of a sport utility vehicle with government funds.
“Ang problema mo kasi Sereno, you are the one to define yourself and the things you want in life,” he said.
Ruckus
Asked if his move was not tantamount to disrupting the checks and balances in government, Duterte said: “I didn’t start this ruckus.”
He said the Ombudsman “allowed herself to be used” by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to bring down the government.
As for Sereno, he said he has no beef with her but that the law should apply to all, noting that one government employee who did not declare a sari-sari store in his SALN was already previously dismissed from office.