Villar named new DOJ spokesperson

Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, the wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, has been designated as the new spokesperson of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday, Oct. 14, announced the designation of Undersecretary Villar following the Oct. 1 resignation of former Undersecretary and former DOJ spokesman Markk Perete.

The secretary added that Usec. Villar will be assisted by Assistant Secretary Neal Bainto.

Perete handed his resignation as DOJ undersecretary to Malacañang on Oct. 1 “due to serious reasons.”

“After much thought, I have decided to submit my resignation from the DOJ effective today due to serious reasons,” Perete earlier stated but refused to give more details about the reasons for his resignation.

Guevarra had already called on the public to respect the privacy of Perete for his decision to resign.

“As these reasons were very personal, the least that we could do for him is to respect his privacy and wish him well,” said the secretary with whom Perete confided the reason for the resignation.

Prior his decision to resign, Perete had shown no hints of leaving the DOJ.

Perete was brought into the DOJ by Guevarra back in in 2018 along with Undersecretaries Villar and Adrian Sugay.

Prior his stint at the DOJ, Perete had been technical assistant with the rank of assistant secretary for the Legal Affairs at the Office of the President.