Aguirre to inhibit himself from cases vs De Lima

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II expressed yesterday willingness to inhibit himself from the ongoing preliminary investigation on the criminal complaints against Senator Leila de Lima but has refused to hand these over to the Office of the Ombudsman just yet.

“I myself will inhibit. No problem with me,” assured Aguirre.

The Secretary reacted to the omnibus motion filed before the DOJ by De Lima which asked Aguirre to inhibit himself and the team of prosecutors from handling the complaints against her.

Claiming that Aguirre and the prosecutors were partial, biased and lacked objectivity, De Lima explained in her motion that “these officials should inhibit themselves and instead refer the cases to the Office of the Ombudsman.”

To this, Aguirre said that he cannot order the inhibition of the team of prosecutors from handling the complaints against her.

“They can’t, otherwise no one will investigate,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong gave Senator De Lima and her co-respondents in the complaints to appear and file their counteraffidavits by December 21 at the DOJ.