MANILA – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales revealed that son of President Rodrigo Duterte and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte has pending cases subject for preliminary investigation.
Carpio-Morales made the revelation during her appearance in a forum on justice and integrity on Tuesday.
The Ombudsman added that she has inhibited from the cases against the presidential son.
“There is a pending probe at the Ombudsman against a member of the First Family. Sabi nila ‘yung vice mayor,” said Carpio-Morales, whose nephew – Atty. Manases Carpio – is the husband of the President’s daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“Nag-inhibit na ako sa cases nila. They are no longer referring any action papers, any orders, anything. Alam na nila na as far as they are concerned, hindi na ako magparticipate. Even when the President was a mayor, nag-inhibit na ako,” she added.
There are five cases docketed under the name of Paolo, which includes graft, forfeiture, perjury, violation of the code of conduct for public officials, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Paolo resigned as vice mayor of Davao on Dec. 25, 2017 out of “delicadeza” after his name was dragged in the smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu and his spat with his 17-year-old daughter, Isabelle, became public.
Paolo’s name was dragged during the fact-finding stage of the drug smuggling case where former Bureau of Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles are the main accused.
Meanwhile, Carpio-Morales said the charge against President Duterte over his alleged ill-gotten wealth had been dismissed after the fact finding team terminated the investigation.
“I was told that the investigation respecting his unexplained wealth has been closed and terminated. When you say closed and terminated, that is without prejudice to another investigation if warranted,” Carpio-Morales said.
Carpio-Morales said in a statement earlier that the fact-finding team terminated its investigation on the case against President Duterte due to uncooperative Anti-Money Laundering Council./PN
