Nina JEFFREY DAMICOG at BETH CAMIA, ulat nina Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos at Leonel M. Abasola
Nagpasalamat kahapon si outgoing Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para sa pagkakataong makapaglingkod siya sa gobyerno.
“I sincerely thank our beloved President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, for the trust and the confidence he reposed on me as his first Secretary of Justice,” saad sa pahayag ni Aguirre. “I am equally thankful for the opportunity to have served our countrymen as the steward of your DoJ.”
Itinalaga sa DoJ noong Hulyo 1, 2016, dumalo kahapon si Aguirre sa misa sa DoJ at para mag-empake ng kanyang mga gamit.
72 PDL's ng Manila City Jail, naka-enrol sa PUP Open University
“I am not sad that it has ended, rather I am thankful that it happened. I am eternally grateful to all!” sabi pa ni Aguirre, at hinimok ang mga opisyal at kawani ng DoJ na buong pusong tanggapin sa kagawaran si Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra, na makakapalit ni Aguirre.
“Moving forward, I humbly ask everyone to welcome with the same degree of enthusiasm and cooperation, more if need be, the team of incoming Secretary Menard Guevarra,” ani Aguirre.
“I salute the good men and women of the DOJ for showing me how it is to serve selflessly in government. You have provided me the inspiration to lead by walking beside me, never behind me nor ahead of me, from Day One,” dagdag pa niya. “I will cherish the bonds formed, the friendships made and the memories we shared.”
Kasama ni Aguirre na dumalo sa misa ang maybahay niyang si Marissa at sina Justice Undersecretaries Erickson Balmes, Reynante Orceo, Raymund Mecate at Antonio Kho.
AGAD-AGAD!
Sa isang panayam sa telebisyon nitong Huwebes ng gabi, sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque na kaagad na tinanggap ng Pangulo ang resignation letter ni Aguirre nitong Huwebes.
“He [President Duterte] didn’t mention the time [the resignation was submitted to his office] anymore. But he said that he accepted it as soon as he knew that it was filed with his office,” ani Roque.
Ayon kay Roque, itinalaga ng Presidente si Guevarra sa DoJ dahil sa “proven integrity” nito.
‘DO WHAT IS RIGHT’
Sa isa namang text message sa mga Malacañang reporter, sinabi ni Guevarra ang direktiba sa kanya ng Pangulo.
“I thank the President for his trust. His sole instruction to me: Do what is right,” ani Guevarra. “Wind up muna ako for a few days sa OP (Office of the President). The President told me to bring back the DoJ’s dignified image.”
PROSECUTORS KULANG
Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto na higit pa sa sunud-sunod na kontrobersiyang kinasangkutan ng DoJ, nahaharap sa kakulangan ng tauhan at kagamitan ang kagawaran.
Ayon kay Recto, dapat na hilingin ni Guevarra sa Malacañang na punan ang kakulangan sa tauhan sa DoJ at dagdagan ang pondo nito.
Sinabi ni Recto na sa ngayon, kailangan ng DoJ ng 1,657 prosecutor pero walang aplikante dahil sa maliit na sahod, kaya naman iisang prosecutor lamang ang may hawak ng 403.
