'Up to Congress to amend Ombudsman Act'

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is open to amendments to the Constitution to clip the powers of the Ombudsman.

Speaking over state-run dzRB radio, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the legislature must tackle concerns about any purported abuse in discussing Republic Act 6770, the Ombudsman Act.

“Again, it’s up to the legislature,” he said.

“If they would like to define what should be a high crime, then we leave it with the legislature. For all intents and purposes, they are the ones who make laws.”

Lacierda said the legislature must decide the cap or threshold on various accounts on impeachable offenses.

“We will leave it with the legislature,” he said.

“They will have to invite constitutional experts, banking experts before they come out with a definition of what a high crime is insofar as money amounts are concerned,” he said.

“The Constitution does not even define what a high crime is. In the Constitution – again, I’m thinking out loud now – I don’t recall a term called high crime.”