Press Release
November 26, 2016

STATEMENT OF SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON THE OMBUDSMAN'S FACT-FINDING INVESTIGATION

The Ombudsman's decision to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the various allegations concerning the drug trade, including those that attempt to link me to said trade in the most absurd contexts, is only expected. To investigate such matters is the constitutional mandate of the Ombudsman. The public, including me, expects no less from the Ombudsman, especially Ombudsman Morales, who has time and again proven her competence, impartiality and capability to live up to our expectations insofar as making public officers accountable to the public is concerned.

As a public officer, I am accountable to the people in both my past and present official capacities as DOJ Secretary and as Senator. I am not exempt from any Ombudsman investigation, as no public officer is, which is the clear intent of the Constitution. As one of the guarantees of the Constitution to assure accountability of public officers, I welcome the Ombudsman investigation, both as a regular undertaking of said office and as an opportunity for me to clear my record of any allegations of wrongdoing. After all, at present, the Ombudsman is the most trusted and respected investigation office of the government, after both the DOJ and the NBI have proven themselves to be nothing more than instruments of the present administration against vocal dissenters to the President, such as myself.

It is about time that the Ombudsman assert its primary jurisdiction over my case, and oust the DOJ of any authority to take over cases cognizable by the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, especially in this instance where the DOJ has shown its lack of objectivity and interest in pursuing the truth.

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