President Rodrigo Duterte during his interview with Erwin Tulfo’s “Sa Totoo Lang” aired on state-run PTV 4 on Friday, September 29 decried the apparent selective justice in the Ombudsman’s investigation of government officials.
He questioned why the body would not conduct probes on corruption accusations hurled against members of other political parties.
“‘Yung kay Trillanes, huwag niyo rin ‘yun kalimutan. Kasi ‘pag hindi, eh ibang istorya na ‘yan. Namumulitika,” said.
“Wala namang Liberal nakita ko na puro naman sila may DAP cases. Bakit ‘yung mga Liberal – are you beholden to the Liberals?” the President asked.
He added that he will create an investigating body to probe corrupt practices at the Office of the Ombudsman. “In the name of public interest and in the name of justice and fair play, there ought to be a body who will investigate you also because the Ombudsman cannot investigate itself. Obviously it is an anomaly,” President Duterte said.
“Kayong Pilipino, tanungin ninyo ‘yung may mga military na nagkakaso diyan magkanong binayad nila, pulis, lahat. Mayor, governors, tanungin ninyo, bayad ‘yan. Bayad ‘yan,” Duterte said.
“Now, if I do not have the power to summon you, I can always go to the courts to apply for a… as an administrative remedial measure,” he said. “Now, pag ayaw mong sumipot in obedience to that summon, I will move for your arrest, contempt of court, and will order the military or the police to arrest you.”