Roque: Carandang used rumor on Rody

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. Malacañang defended its decision to dismiss Deputy Overall Ombudsman Melchor Carandang as presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he used rumor in an effort to destroy President Rodrigo Duterte and his family.

“I think the dismissal was the right penalty,” Roque said in a radio interview.

The Office of the President released the dismissal order against Carandang last Wednesday for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

Roque, a lawyer, said Carandang has been given appropriate opportunity to answer the administrative complaints filed against him for alleging that Duterte and his family have accumulated ill-gotten wealth amounting to billions of pesos.

“What he did was very clear. He revealed a fake report, (a report) which the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has claimed was not true,” Roque said.

“He revealed it to the public even as the law provides that the investigation of Anti-Money Laundering Council should be confidential,” he added.

He said Carandang had clearly used his position to destroy the name of the President by using fake report.