By Charmaine A. Tadalan
MALACAÑANG on Friday urged incoming Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires to “immediately” implement the dismissal order on Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur H. Carandang.
“Well, as far as I know… it is the OP (Office of the President) that should also implement that but we leave it to the incoming Ombudsman how it will be implemented,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing.
“We will await Ombudsman Martires’s assumption into his new office and we would hope that decision be executed as soon as possible,” he added. The President last week announced the appointment of Mr. Martires, succeeding retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Malacañang, in a decision dated July 30, ordered Mr. Carandang’s dismissal for making public statements on an ongoing investigation on President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s wealth and disclosing related confidential information.
Mr. Roque said Mr. Carandang can avail himself of “judicial review,” but maintained the order was “founded on facts and law.”
“Clearly, he violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act himself when he made public certain documents, which was later on confirmed by AMLC not to be accurate,” Mr. Roque said.
“So it was really ‘tsismis’ (gossip) on a matter that should have been handled on a confidential basis, and I think that merits the order of dismissal,” he added.

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