Palace respects Ombudsman’s pending probe vs Paolo Duterte

PaoloDuterte (left) and lawyer Manases Carpio. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacañang respects the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte even after the anti-graft body dismissed the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling case against him.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales revealed on Tuesday that there was still a “pending” investigation at the Ombudsman against the younger Duterte.

Morales, who has inhibited from the cases against the First Family, did not provide other details on the pending investigation.

Malacañang respects the initiative of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The Office of the Ombudsman has the power to investigate on its own and initiate proper action against public officers,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“We see this as part of the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate to ensure public accountability,” Roque added.

The Ombudsman’s special fact-finding team had earlier cleared for lack of evidence the former vice mayor and his brother-in-law lawyer Manases Carpio from the the controversial P6.4-billion shabu shipment that was smuggled into the Philippines. /jpv

READ: Ombudsman panel clears Paolo Duterte in P6.4-B shabu shipment case