Paolo Duterte still under probe over SALN — Morales

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman is currently investigating presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte in connection with his alleged undeclared wealth, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has confirmed.

In a taped television interview aired on CNN Philippines yesterday, Morales said Cyril Ramos, deputy ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO), is leading the preliminary investigation on the younger Duterte in connection with alleged misdeclarations in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

“What I know is that it has not been terminated yet. If I recall correctly, it was raffled off to MOLEO, to Deputy Ombudsman Ramos. I think it has to do with his SALNs… (under) preliminary investigation,” Morales said.

She, however, was quick to reiterate that she had long inhibited from any investigation involving the Dutertes as she is related to them by marriage.

Morales’ nephew Manases Carpio is the husband of presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

“So, when the case of Paolo Duterte came (to preliminary investigation), they referred it to me and I said due to prior inhibition, I will inhibit in this case,” Morales recounted.

If a complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman has already reached preliminary investigation, it means that it has passed the fact-finding stage and sufficient evidence has been gathered by field investigators to warrant a formal investigation. 

Under ombudsman procedures, it is during the preliminary investigation when the respondent will be notified of a complaint against him and he will be given a chance to file a counter-affidavit and to present counter evidence.

It was last May when Morales first revealed that Duterte was undergoing preliminary investigation by one of her deputy ombudsmen, but at the time refused to elaborate on what issue or controversy.

The ombudsman fact-finding panel had earlier cleared Duterte and presidential son-in-law Manases of involvement in the alleged P6.4-billion shabu shipment in May 2017 at the Manila port supposedly involving several Customs officials.

Based on the list obtained by reporters from the Office of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division, there are five pending complaints against Duterte undergoing preliminary investigation as of Jan. 12, 2018.

Two of the complaints are criminal in nature, two administrative and one is civil forfeiture.

The criminal complaints involve violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code.

The administrative complaints, meanwhile, involve conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty and violation of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The civil complaint is for violation of RA 1379 or An Act Declaring Forfeiture in Favor of the State of Any Property Found to Have Been Unlawfully Acquired by Any Public Officer or Employee.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had earlier accused the former vice mayor of keeping bank accounts with huge deposits, saying he was a member of a Chinese drug triad.

Duterte resigned as vice mayor in December last year after being implicated in the shabu shipment anomaly, though he denied any involvement.