MANILA – The Office of the President dismissed Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang from office, citing him for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.
The decision dated July 30 stemmed from Carandang’s disclosure in 2017 alleging that President Rodrigo Duterte made transactions worth billions of pesos.
The Office of the President accused Carandang of violating Section 7(c)(1) of Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officers and Employees for his “disclosure and/or misuse of confidential information in order to give undue advantage to Senator (Antonio) Trillanes (IV).”
In addition, Carandang violated Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Office of the Ombudsman Administrative Order No. 07, the Office of the President said.
“These transgressions of respondent Carandang constitute graft and corruption, as well as betrayal of public trust, which gravely affect his fitness to remain in public office,” stated the decision signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Carandang “is thus penalized with dismissal from the service, which carries with it the cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, bar from taking civil service examinations [sic], and forfeiture of retirement benefits,” it added.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Carandang’s statements regarding the alleged bank accounts of Duterte in an ongoing investigation “were in breach of his duty to protect confidential information.”
“This decision was reached after giving Mr. Carandang the appropriate opportunity to respond to the charges made against him,” Roque said in a statement.
Carandang previously said he received a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) stating that Duterte and his family’s bank transactions amounting to over P1 billion. But the AMLC denied providing the Office of the Ombudsman any report on such transactions./PN
