IGINIIT ng Palasyo na bagamat malaya ang Office of the Ombudsman na imbestigahan si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte may immunity naman siya sa lahat ng kasong isasampa laban sa kanya.
“The President enjoys immunity while in office and the Ombudsman, although she may investigate, cannot discipline or remove a sitting President,” sabi ni Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales na tuloy ang imbestigasyon kaugnay ng kasong inihain ni Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV laban kay Duterte.
“We all know that part of the constitutional mandate of the Ombudsman is to act on complaints against government employees and officials, including the complaint filed by Senator Trillanes against the President when he was still mayor of Davao City,” giit ni Andanar.
Nauna nang inakusahan ni Trillanes si Duterte sa pagkuha ng ghost employees noong siya pa ang mayor ng Davao City.
“However, whether this will become a case against the President is an entirely different matter,” ayon pa kay Andanar.