Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Friday downplayed President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense of the policemen involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa after Senator Leila de Lima said he could be impeached for it.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a forum in Pasig City, Morales said Duterte’s vow that he will not let any of the beleaguered Leyte policemen go to jail was “a mere statement.”
“That’s a mere statement. Whether it's going to be carried out or not is a different story,” she said.
Asked if Duterte’s could be impeached over his statement, Morales said: “According to Leila [De Lima], it's a betrayal of public trust. We’re not bound by anyone's opinion. We will have our own opinion.”
Morales let out a laugh when asked for her own thoughts on whether Duterte could be impeached for what he said. “As I said, iba yung salita, iba yung aksyon,” she said.
De Lima, one of Duterte’s staunchest critics, earlier said Duterte can be impeached for betrayal of public trust for shielding the police officers involved in Espinosa’s killing since it is his duty as Chief Executive to enforce the law, part of which involves making criminals accountable for their actions.
Duterte said he will not allow members Leyte cops who figured in the killing of Espinosa to go to jail despite the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of murder and rubout.
He even assured the policemen of his support even if the NBI files cases against them.
"May finding sila? Good. File nila ng kaso. Pero hindi ko pabayaan ang mga pulis na ito kasi ako ang may utos eh," he said.
Espinosa, who had been accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade, was shot dead inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail last November.
Despite De Lima's statement about Duterte's possible commission of an impeachable offense, a Liberal Party stalwart, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao, said the prospect of filing an impeachment complaint against him would have to be studied first.
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