By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday, May 16, disclosed more names of officials whom he said he had ordered “suspended pending investigation.”
“Suspended sila lahat ngayon (They’re all suspended now), pending investigation,” Mr. Duterte told Malacañang reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
“Those people that are under investigation are [Atty.] Ambrosi Basman; Atty. Rohani Basman; Amisa Lumuntod; Amilquir Macabando, ex-mayor of Marawi City; Atty. Samina Sampaco Macabando-Usman, DoJ Prosecutor; OIC Pasay City Prosecutor Atty. Benjamin B. Lanto, relative of Mr. Lumuntod Macabando; Inquest Prosecutor Clemente Villanueva; Assistant Prosecutor Florenzo dela Cruz; NAIA District Collector Ramon Anquilan; and DoJ Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon, [Sr.],” the President said.
Also on his list are “NAIA- Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Adzhar Albani; CIIS Head Butch Ledesma, plantilla holder assigned at NAIA; and Customs Operation Officer Lumuntod Macabando.”
Mr. Duterte said he will also forward the results of the investigation to the Office of the Ombudsman.
In his press briefing on Tuesday, May 15, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said the President has already advised Mr. Macarambon and Public Works Assistant Secretary Tingagun Ampaso Umpa to tender their resignations.
The spokesman said, also citing a report by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), that Mr. Macarambon “[has] regularly been intervening on behalf of smugglers of gold and other precious jewelry at the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport.”
Citing a DPWH report, Mr. Roque said Mr. Umpa “allegedly committed grave abuse of power, and may have committed acts of corruption.”
“[Mr. Umpa] asked from contractors in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) area for certain percentages from projects awarded to these contractors,” Mr. Roque said.
