The ongoing investigation launched by Ombudsman Samuel Martires against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will not be affected by President Rodrigo Duterte’s show of support for the health chief, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roqu said on Tuesday.
“Tuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon kaya nga sabi po ni Presidente, with all due respect to Ombudsman Martires, alam po niya na independiente at constitutional office ang Ombudsman at hindi po niya hinahadlangan ang imbestigasyon na ito.”
[The investigation will proceed that’s why the President said with all due respect to Ombudsman Martires, he knows that the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body and he won’t meddle.]
The spokesman also pointed out that he believes Martires, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, will not be swayed despite his relations with Duterte.
“Alam po niya ang batas niya, titingnan lang niya kung mayroong nalabag na batas. Kung hindi man ang Anti-Graft Law then titingnan niya ang Salonga Law on Code of Conduct for Public Officers,” he said.
[He knows his law, he will see if there were any laws violated. If not the Anti-Graft Law, he will look at the Salonga Law on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.]
