Fearless corruption-busting grandmother who clashed with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte retires
‘With her retirement, another critical voice is softened but not silenced’
The Philippines’ top anti-corruption prosecutor, a fearless grandmother who was one of the few remaining critics of President Rodrigo Duterte in government, retired on Thursday, appealing for “strong institutions” over strong leaders.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, 77, finishes her seven-year term during which she earned Duterte’s ire for criticising his brutal drug war and for her office’s investigation into his alleged secret bank accounts.
Duterte, who accused Morales of “selective justice” and conspiring with opposition figures to oust him, last year threatened to have the retired Supreme Court justice impeached while launching tirades against her.
But a defiant Morales dismissed Duterte’s allegations as “fake news”, saying that his threats never intimidated her from doing her job.
“I know I am right in my own work so why should I be scared,” Morales said days before her retirement.
“As long as we have strong institutions, we don’t need strong people to run the government”, she added, emphasising the importance of independent bodies like her office.