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Only Supreme Court can stop Carandang suspension: Roque

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Kat Domingo, ABS-CBN News

The executive branch will suspend Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang despite the defiance of the Office of the Ombudsman unless the agency secures a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, a Palace spokesman said Friday.Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Wednesday refused to implement the Palace order to suspend Carandang for 90 days for alleged grave misconduct and grave dishonesty for his supposed illegal disclosure of President Rodrigo Dutertes&#x27; bank accounts.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/31/18/ombudsman-defies-palace-wont-enforce-carandang-suspension">Ombudsman defies Palace, won&#x27;t enforce Carandang suspension</a></li></ul>Morales cited a 2014 Supreme Court decision that declared unconstitutional a provision in the Ombudsman Act of 1989 granting the Office of the President the power to remove a deputy ombudsman.&quot;If they think that is a basis, they should go to the Supreme Court. Go get a TRO. Without a TRO, we will implement the law,&quot; Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing in Baguio City.Roque said opposition senators who criticized the suspension order against Carandang should remember that their ally, former President Benigno Aquino III, sacked 3 deputy ombudsmen under his term.&quot;It was President Aquino who removed 3 deputy ombudsman. They (opposition senators) had the same view that the president has the power to discipline all unimpeachable officers (then),&quot; he said.Among those fired by Aquino was Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III who allegedly delayed the resolution of the extortion case against S/Insp. Rolando Mendoza, the hostage taker in the 2010 Manila Hostage Crisis.The Supreme Court, however, overturned Aquino&#x27;s decision and reinstated Gonzales to his post.Roque earlier said the Palace gave Carandang 10 days to submit his reply to answer the administrative cases. &quot;It is incumbent upon Mr. Carandang to submit his answer within the required period. After the lapse of the period provided, the Office of the President shall decide on the matter,&quot; Roque said. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Carandang should just resign from his post to avoid dragging the Office of the Ombudsman into further controversy.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/01/18/deputy-ombudsman-carandang-should-resign-says-panelo">Deputy Ombudsman Carandang should resign, says Panelo</a></li></ul>For his part, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Carandang&#x27;s suspension is a clear case of obstruction of justice. &quot;Maling-mali si Duterte dito kahit saan mo tignan. Bukod pa sa independent ang Ombudsman and her deputies, ayon sa ating Constitution, pinasuspende nya ang taong nag-iimbestiga sa mga nakaw na yaman niya,&quot; the opposition lawmaker said in a statement. &quot;Maliwanag na obstruction of justice din yan.&quot; Trillanes said he will lodge a complaint against AMLC executive director Mel Georgie Racela for participating in an alleged &quot;cover-up.&quot; <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/01/18/trillanes-mulls-charges-vs-amlc-exec">Trillanes mulls charges vs AMLC exec</a></li></ul>The documents that Carandang had referred to were mentioned in the minutes of an AMLC meeting in May 2016 and was part of an agreement with the Ombudsman to provide such documents for intelligence purposes, the senator said. He also noted that Racela was an appointee of Duterte.

The executive branch will suspend Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang despite the defiance of the Office of the Ombudsman unless the agency secures a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, a Palace spokesman said Friday.

The executive branch will suspend Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang despite the defiance of the Office of the Ombudsman unless the agency secures a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, a Palace spokesman said Friday.

Only Supreme Court can stop Carandang suspension: Roque

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Only Supreme Court can stop Carandang suspension: Roque

Kat Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 01, 2018 12:23 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 01, 2018 12:48 PM PHT

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Harry Roque

Melchor Carandang

Ombudsman

deputy ombudsman

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