Baste to be suspended? Pure gossip, says Abalos

MANILA, Philippines — Will Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte be suspended from office?

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte’s impending suspension has been confirmed by various sources.

Roque also cited reports that the suspension order would be served after President Marcos’ visit to Davao region to distribute aid to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

Duterte had earlier called for the resignation of the President, but later said he wished to have peace with the Marcoses.

Roque said Duterte faces suspension for criticizing the Marcos administration.

Duterte and his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, have also accused Marcos of being a drug abuser. 

“Bawal and kritiko sa panahon ng diktador,” Roque said, lamenting that criticism is banned under a dictator.

”Kaming mga umakyat sa entablado ay nabudol. Akala namin nagbago na ang lahat ngunit hindi pala,” he added, saying those who supported the presidential bid of Marcos in the 2022 elections had been duped.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos dismissed Roque’s claim as ”pure gossip.”

“As far as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is concerned, right now, there is no truth to that. It’s chismis,” Abalos told The STAR.

The DILG is tasked to implement the suspension of local officials as ordered either by the Office of the Ombudsman or provincial boards.

“Can you ask Harry Roque where he got his information and in what department? It seems Roque is causing confusion,” Abalos added.

Ombudsman: No pending case vs Baste

In a text message, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said there is no pending investigation regarding any case against Duterte filed before his office.

”Baste has no case before the ombudsman, so how can we issue a preventive suspension?” Martires said.

The ombudsman orders the preventive suspension for up to six months of public officials facing investigation for serious offenses such as grave misconduct that warrant dismissal from office if found guilty.

The preventive suspension is usually issued by the ombudsman if initial evidence against an accused public official is strong and continued stay in office may prejudice an ongoing investigation.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has urged the Marcos administration to investigate Sebastian Duterte for drug-related killings in Davao.

The group has expressed alarm over Duterte’s declaration of a new war on drugs, which resulted in seven deaths in less than a week. — Elizabeth Marcelo