MANILA, Philippines – Binalaan ni ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro si
Ombudsman Samuel Martires na “people are extra vigilant in watching him” sa paghawak ng reklamo laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sa pahayag nitong Sabado, Hunyo 21, sinabi ni Castro na si Martires ay appointee ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ang ama ng bise presidente.
“We would just like to warn the Ombudsman that being a Duterte appointee, the people are extra vigilant in watching him as they fear that there may be a whitewash of the case even if the evidence are overwhelming,” ani Castro.
Si Martires ay itinalaga bilang Ombudsman noong 2018 ni Duterte.
Nitong Biyernes, inatasan ni Martires si Vice President Duterte, kabilang ang siyam iba pang opisyal mula sa Office of the Vice President at Department of Education, na maghain ng kanilang counter-affidavits para sagutin ang committee report ng Kamara na nagrerekomenda sa paghahain ng reklamo.
Ang mga reklamong ito ay technical malversation, falsification at paggamit ng falsified documents, perjury, bribery at corruption, maging ang plunder, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution.
Sa kabila ng babala, sinabi ni Castro na ang hakbang ni Martires para atasan si Duterte na sumagot sa mga reklamo ay welcome “even as the impeachment proceedings take their course.”
“Hindi dapat maging one or the other. Impeachment is removal from office and perpetual disqualification. The criminal case meanwhile is for imprisonment and the mere fact that she is asked to explain means it has sound basis,” sinabi ni Castro.
Iginiit ng mambabatas na “all modes for holding Sara Duterte accountable, whether through criminal cases or impeachment, should be welcomed.”
“This need not be a case of choosing one over the other. Let the separate proceedings reach their logical conclusion, conviction.” RNT/JGC
