Camille Naredo

The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022.

The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SC voids Carandang's dismissal under Duterte administration

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Supreme Court Third Division has voided the dismissal of former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang during the Duterte administration in a ruling released on Saturday, May 2. &quot;By constitutional design, the President possesses no administrative or disciplinary authority over a Deputy Ombudsman,&quot; the High Court said through a ruling penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh. In July 2018, the Malacañang under then President Rodrigo Duterte issued a dismissal order against Carandang after finding him liable for graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/23/18/palace-asked-to-bodily-remove-deputy-ombudsman-from-office">FROM 2018: Palace asked to &#x27;bodily remove&#x27; deputy Ombudsman from office</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/31/18/ombudsman-defies-palace-wont-enforce-carandang-suspension">FROM 2018: Ombudsman defies Palace, won&#x27;t enforce Carandang suspension</a></div>Following Malacañang&#x27;s decision, in June 2019, the Office of the Ombudsman also ordered Carandang to step down from his post.He was dismissed over alleged breach of confidentiality, and even graft for disclosing the bank investigation into Duterte&#x27;s wealth. The SC voided both the decisions of Malacañang and the Office of the Ombudsman. It also ruled that Carandang is entitled to all retirement benefits and his salaries from the period of his suspension and dismissal. &quot;Accordingly, Carandang is entitled to all of his retirement benefits effective upon the expiration of his term. He is also entitled to receive his salaries corresponding to the period of his preventive suspension and dismissal, but only up to the expiry of his term,&quot; the SC ruling read. Carandang was removed from his post in 2018 when he was to retire in 2020. Associate justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa (chairperson), Henri Jean Paul Inting, Samuel Gaerlan, and Japar Dimaampao of the Third Division all concurred in the ruling.

The Supreme Court Third Division has voided the dismissal of former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang during the Duterte administration in a ruling released on Saturday, May 2.

The Supreme Court Third Division has voided the dismissal of former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang during the Duterte administration in a ruling released on Saturday, May 2.