Calida slams Ombudsman over Duterte plunder probe

Solicitor General Jose Calida has slammed the Office of the Ombudsman for not disclosing immediately that it has “closed and terminated” the probe into the plunder complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV against President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Calida said Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang confirmed in a letter dated February 12, that the probe was already “terminated” on November 29, 2017.

“If a case in the magnitude like this when the President of the Philippines is the respondent, and the case was ‘dismissed’ by the Office of the Ombudsman, why not disclose it to the public?” Calida asked in a press conference.

“It concerns the integrity of the President of the Philippines. She should explain first why she kept this from the public,” Calida said. “Are they also coddling the complainants like Senator Trillanes?”

Carandang, who was ordered suspended by Malacanang for 90 days, wrote a letter to Calida in response to his inquiry on the status of Trillanes’ complaint against Duterte.

In the letter, Carandang sad the complaint “was already closed and terminated.”

“Based on record, the recommendation to terminate the investigation was approved by Deputy Ombudsman Cyril E. Ramos on November 29, 2017,” Carandang said.

“Anent your request for a copy of the complaint and its attachments, the office regrets to inform you that, per its existing policy, it cannot do so as said documents remain confidential,” he said.  /muf