Malacañang expects Martires to fire Deputy Ombudsman

Malacañang is expecting newly-appointed Ombudsman Samuel Martires to immediately implement the dismissal order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang.

Carandang was ordered fired by the Office of the President (OP) for disclosing to media details of an inquiry into the alleged unexplained wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte’s family.

“It is immediately executory, and we would want to see that the order be implemented immediately, as soon as the new Ombudsman takes his oath,” Roque said in a press briefing in Bukidnon.

Roque also denied allegations that the OP waited for former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to retire before it released the dismissal order against Carandang.

Morales retired as Ombudsman on July 26, 2018 after serving seven years in her office. The order against Carandang was dated July 30, 2018.

The former Ombudsman had refused to enforce Malacañang’s 90-day preventive suspension order against Carandang after a complaint was filed against him for disclosing details of the ongoing inquiry.

READ: Morales refuses to enforce ‘unconstitutional’ suspension of deputy Ombudsman

“It (the decision) is based solely on facts and the law. Clearly he violated the anti-money laundering act himself when he made public certain documents which were later on confirmed by AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) not to be accurate,” Roque said.

“So it was really tsismis on a matter that should have been handled on a confidential basis. And I think that merits the order of dismissal,” he added.   /muf