DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte challenged Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to resign together with him before the Congress, saying both officials have been tainted with corrupt practices.
At the installation of new Integrated Bar of the Philippines officers in Davao City, Duterte said there was already a case filed against Sereno.
Morales, on the other hand, should have acted on cases filed long ago, instead of focusing on the case against him, which was not true.
“You are in on a selective justice, p——–,” he said,
“I challenge the two, we will go to Congress, in a simple ceremony, we sign the letter of resignation. Sige nga [Come on]. Then let us open all the books, even yours,” he added.
Duterte issued the challenge after Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang announced that his office was investigating transactions in the joint bank accounts of Duterte and his children that allegedly totaled in the billions.
Duterte has denied the allegations and said the documents upon which they were based were fabricated.
He also said it puzzled him that the Ombudsman obtained documents showing his alleged bank transactions when the Anti-Money Laundering Council already issued a statement that they did not release any records of Duterte’s bank accounts.
Sereno is facing an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives. The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, a pro-Duterte group, has said it will file an impeachment complaint against Morales.
In August, detained Senator Leila de Lima said Duterte’s attacks on Sereno and Morales showed he wanted them removed from office.
In the wake of the new investigation on his bank accounts, Duterte threatened to create a commission to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman for partiality and corruption.