I can’t probe House members getting kickbacks; I have no jurisdiction – Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that he was aware that some members of the House of Representatives might have been getting kickbacks from contractors of government projects, but he could not investigate them as they belonged to a separate branch of government.

He would instead refer to the Office of the Ombudsman the information that he received from the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

“You know, let’s go to political law. I have no business investigating congressmen. We belong to a separate organ of government which is co-equal with the president and even the Supreme Court,” Duterte said.

“If you throw it [an issue] to me, I have no other recourse: I will then throw it to the Ombudsman. It is the only investigating agency that has jurisdiction over congressmen – not me,” he added, speaking partly in Filipino.

“Now, as to whether I can mention their names or not, I have no jurisdiction, I’m not trying to wash my hands. I’m dwelling on the law,” he added.

“If I cannot investigate the congressmen, then I have no authority to be releasing their names,” he said.

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