New DOJ chief says President’s only order – ‘Do what is right!’
Newly-appointed Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday that he has received only one instruction from President Duterte: “Do what is right.”
“The President’s sole instruction to me: do what is right,” the former Senior Deputy Executive Secretary revealed in a text message sent to reporters.
Guevarra took his oath as the new DOJ chief on Thursday afternoon, after President Duterte announced in Malacañang that he had accepted earlier in the day the resignation of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Aguirre’s resignation came after weeks of speculation that there will be a revamp in Duterte’s Cabinet after the President said that he is not any more satisfied with the performance of some of his Cabinet officials.
Aguirre and Duterte were fraternity brothers in the Lex Taleonis Fraternity at San Beda College.
Man of integrity Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in an interview over CNN Philippines Friday night, said Duterte chose Guevarra as the latter is a man of integrity.
“He [Guevarra] has been serving the Palace: the Office of the President as Senior Deputy Executive Secretary with the rank of Cabinet; and his proven competence as a lawyer; and proven integrity,” said Roque.
“I thank the President for his trust. His sole instruction to me: Do what is right,” Guevarra said.
In a text message to Palace reporters on his plans, Guevarra said: “Wind up muna ako for a few days sa OP (I will wind up first at the Office of the President for a few days). The President told me to bring back the DOJ’s dignified image,” he added.
Aguirre’s thanks Yesterday, Aguirre thanked Duterte for the opportunity to work for him in government. “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,” he said in a statement.
“I am not sad that it has ended, rather I am thankful that it happened. I am eternally grateful to all!” he said, adding that he salutes all the good men and women of the DOJ and urged them to cooperate with the new Secretary of Justice.
Continuity assured Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador assured that all directives made by the President to the DOJ will continue under Guevarra’s leadership.
“I’m sure anything that is positive at pabor sa tao ay itutuloy nung (and favors the people will be continued by) whoever succeeds. In this particular case, iyong bagong hirang na Secretary of Justice, si (the newly appointed Justice Secretary which is) Guevarra,” Panelo said in an interview over DWFM early yesterday.
Congress support Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto urged Congress to provide the necessary assistance that the new DOJ chief would be needing in the coming years as he would be grappling with manpower and lack of equipment which he inherited from his predecessor.
Recto pointed out that the DOJ “is hobbled by across-the-board shortages in personnel and equipment” and thus, should be given the “men and material” that the agency needs to pursue the resolution of high-profile cases.
Recto said solving DOJ’s woes “requires tripartite collaboration” by the three branches of government.
“Congress should fund the improvements. The Judiciary should address the slow disposition of cases,” Recto said, further saying that the “changing of the guards alone will not automatically lead to improvements in an agency that is an important pillar of the justice system.”
“Budget delayed is justice denied,” Recto reiterated.
The DOJ has a budget of P18.4-billion this year, of which P1.35-billion is for capital outlay.
Fill in shortages “While the nation’s focus is on him, the Justice Secretary is not the justice system. The latter consists of men and women who assist pauper litigants, represent the people in courts, guard our prisons, sit in parole boards, and run after big organized crime,” Recto pointed out.
He said Guevarra’s first order of business is to fill vacancies in key DOJ agencies and ask his former office, Malacañang, to propose higher funding for new equipment and buildings.
“For example, there are 1,657 vacant prosecutorial posts. The problem is that there are no takers because of the low pay for the hard labor, and the only bonus one gets is ‘unli’ death threats,” he noted.
Because of this, the senator said one prosecutor handles about 403 criminal cases, apart from attending three court hearings on a daily basis, in addition to preliminary investigations, retrials, witness deposition, mediation, among others. (With reports from Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos and Hannah L. Torregoza)