Ombudsman dismayed at DILG decision on Duterte

Manila, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman is dismayed at the decision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) not to penalize Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for beating up a sheriff last July 1, which was caught on national television.

A source said the Office of the Ombudsman is now bent on taking over the grave misconduct case against Duterte who punched sheriff Abe Andres repeatedly while the latter was serving a court order to demolish the shanties of informal settlers in Davao City.

The ombudsman, the source said, was surprised that DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo did not even recommend a reprimand. Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro is expected to issue a statement tomorrow.

Duterte, an administration ally, is also facing a criminal complaint for direct assault filed by the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (SCOPHIL). The case has been forwarded to Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Humphrey Monteroso.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier declared that it would let the DILG decide on the administrative liability of Duterte.

Although Andres has not pressed charges, the source said the administrative complaint still stands.

This means the Office of the Ombudsman or the SCOPHIL can act as the nominal complainant in the grave misconduct case against Duterte.

Casimiro’s spokesperson Rawnsle Lopez confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman may step in “at any stage of the investigation.”

She explained that after the DILG’s fact-finding probe, the anti-graft agency may proceed with “administrative adjudication,” to determine the “fitness of a public servant to remain in service and determine any administrative infractions committed.”

“All we need is substantial evidence to hold a public servant administratively liable,” Lopez told The STAR.

She added that the administrative case would likely be forwarded also to the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao, which has already created a panel of investigators to handle the criminal complaint.

On Friday, Robredo revealed he would only submit an incident report to President Aquino as well as recommendations on how to avoid similar confrontations in the future.