BY GENALYN KABILING
President Duterte has refused to investigate and identify some congressmen allegedly getting kickbacks from project contractors, saying he has no jurisdiction over the members of a separate co-equal branch of government.
The President explained that he has “no recourse” but to pass the list of lawmakers to the Office of the Ombudsman to take appropriate action.
The list of lawmakers allegedly involved in corruption in public works projects in their districts was given to the President by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
“I have no business investigating congressmen. They belong to a separate organ of government which is co-equal with the President pati ang (and the) Supreme Court,” Duterte said in his televised public address Monday night.
“Kung itapon mo sa akin, I have no other recourse itapon ko rin ‘yan doon sa Ombudsman because it is the only investigating agency that has jurisdiction over congressmen. Hindi ako. I cannot investigate congressman, that would be an encroachment of the power of the separation,” he said.
“I’m not trying to wash my hands. I am now dwelling on the law…If I cannot investigate the congressmen then I have no authority to be releasing their names that they are involved per investigation by the PACC,” he added.
The President mentioned that PACC commissioner Greco Belgica informed him about the list of congressmen “who are into the business of asking commissions from contractors.
“Now how true ito sabi ni Belgica sa PACC (Now how true the report made by Belgica of PACC) is a matter of evidence,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
