MALACAÑANG refuted on Thursday, August 2, the allegation of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the firing of Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang was "illegal and unconstitutional."
"Senator Antonio Trillanes [IV] is entitled to his opinion on the dismissal of Overall Deputy Ombudsman Carandang," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.
"The Palace, however, maintains its position that the decision is legal and constitutional," he added.
In a decision signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on July 30, Carandang was dismissed after he was found liable for graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust for publicizing evidence against President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Palace's decision against Carandang stemmed from the administrative complaint lodged against him, which sought his removal from office for divulging confidential information about Duterte and his family's alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Carandang was the one assigned by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to probe Duterte's supposed ill-gotten wealth.
Carandang was accused of being guilty of "manifest partiality toward Trillanes" with the intent to broadcast information "adverse to the President."
Earlier Thursday, August 2, Trillanes, who repeatedly claimed that Duterte had hidden wealth amounting to billions of pesos, described Carandang's removal from office as "illegal and unconstitutional."
"Not only is this illegal and unconstitutional since the Office of the Ombudsman is an autonomous constitutional body, it is also highly unethical to fire the very same person investigating him," the senator said.
"Up to now, Duterte cannot face this serious allegation about his hidden wealth amounting to billions of pesos of deposits; so, he is resorting to cover-up and harassment tactics," he added. (VoxPop Philippines)
