DOJ says 'no problem' if Ombudsman takes over probe on Sara Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte attends the HOR Committee hearing on Good Governance and Public Accountability at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, tackling the P612.5 million confidential fund expenses of the OVP and the DepEd under the helm of VP Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file 

MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said it will respect the Office of the Ombudsman should it decide to take over the investigation on Vice President Sara Duterte's  alleged kill plot against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, according to Undersecretary Jesse Andres.

This after Ombudsman Samuel Martires said his office could take over and continue the probe of other agencies, particularly the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), if they "feel" that it is within their jurisdiction. 

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Andres said it is the Ombudsman's prerogative if they would like to handle the probe instead.

"Nag-communicate na po ako para hindi through media but directly po sa opisina niya. Wala pong problema. Ako po'y rumerespeto," he mentioned.

(I already communicated directly to his office and not through media. There's no problem. I respect it.)

"That is their prerogative, we will respect them," Andres added. 

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The DOJ official said that amid the political ruckus, the agency will continue to "stand up for justice, national security, and the rule law."

"Gano'n pa man (Even so), sa gitna ng lahat ng nangyayari (amid everything that is happening), ang DOJ po will continue to stand up for justice, national security, and the rule law," he said. 

Meanwhile, DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said it is a jurisdictional matter which he believes can be addressed by an existing memorandum of agreement between the DOJ and the Ombudsman. 

"However, this is a case of national significance and I believe that proper dialogue and discourse between the two agencies is much better rather than escalating this further than it should" he stressed.  

"Just like the president has showed us and our people, this is a matter that does not do good for our Filipino people kaya siguro po ay more toned down dialogue is needed in this type of situation," Clavano added.