Several lawmakers have expressed their support to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, amid a reported looming impeachment complaint to be filed against her by a group close to President Duterte.
In House Resolution 1395, 26 lawmakers urged the House leaders to “support, preserve and protect the constitutional independence and integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman”.
The lawmakers said the Office of the Ombudsman, created under the 1987 Constitution, is an independent body “to serve as protectors of the people against inept, abusive and corrupt [officials] in the government…with the power to investigate on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient,” the resolution said.
According to the lawmakers, the framers of the Constitution intended that these independent bodies be “insulated from political pressure” to the extent that the absence of independence would result in the impairment of their core functions, and to shield it from the pressures and influence of officialdom and partisan politics and from fear of external reprisal.
They said even the Supreme Court has previously stated that it has maintained a policy of non interference with the “virtually unlimited investigatory and prosecutorial powers granted by the Constitution and by law to the Ombudsman”.
Earlier, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption said it is poised to file an impeachment case against the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, 21 of the authors of the resolution are members of Liberal Party, namely: Reps. Francis Gerald A. Abaya of the First District Cavite; Benjamin C. Agarao of the Fourth District of Laguna; Vicente J. Alcala of the Second District of Quezon; Isagani S. Amatong of the Third District of Zamboanga del Norte; Arlene J. Bag-ao of the Lone District of Dinagat Island; Jorge Banal of the Third District of Quezon City; Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte of the Sixth District of Quezon City; Emmanuel A. Billones of the First District of Capiz; Gabriel H. Bordado Jr. of the Third District of Camarines Sur; Raul A. Daza of the First District of Northern Samar; Raul V. del Mar of the First District of Cebu City; Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla of the Second District of Zambales; Christopher V. P. de Venecia of the Fourth District of Pangasinan; Edgar R. Erice of the Second District of Caloocan; Edcel C. Lagman of the First District of Albay; Jocelyn S. Limkaichong of the First District of Negros Oriental; Miro S. Quimbo of the Second District of Marikina; Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato of the Lone District of Occidental Mindoro; Rene L. Relampagos of the First District of Bohol; Vilma Santos-Recto of the Sixth District of Batangas; and Edgar Mary Sarmiento of the First District of Samar.
Other non-Liberal Party signatories include Reps. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Albay of the First District of Bukidnon, Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan, Rep. Strike H. Revilla of the Second District of Cavite, Lawrence Fortun of the Second District of Agusan del Norte and Ramon V.A. Rocamora of the Lone District of Siquijor.
Last week Duterte called for the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Sereno and Ombudsman Morales. “I challenge the two, we will go to Congress, in a simple ceremony, we sign the letter of resignation. Then let us open all the books, including yours.”
President Duterte has also expressed his plan to create a commission to investigate corruption and anomalies at the OMB.