‘No reason to jail Noy after term’

Malacañang does not see any basis for the incoming administration to go after President Aquino once he steps down from office.

A leftist group, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas ( Pamalakaya-Pilipinas), challenged incoming president Rodrigo Duterte to prosecute all criminals, including Aquino and his top officials, for crimes committed against the people.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over radio dzRB yesterday the President followed the Constitution and

enforced the laws fairly during his term.

Coloma said Aquino was faithful in fulfilling his sworn duties as Chief Executive.

The group said among the crimes that Aquino, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Senate President Franklin Drilon must be held accountable for were the misuse of public funds through the Disbursement Acceleration Program, Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and donations given to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

But Coloma said it was under the Aquino administration where officials allegedly involved in the PDAF scam were made accountable, including three senators and several congressmen and other individuals.

Coloma said this was proof that there was no selective justice but only fair implementation of the law during the time of Aquino.

With regard to the supposed promise of Duterte to free former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is under hospital detention on various charges, Coloma said it would be up to the judiciary to decide.

Coloma said the question on the lack of conviction of “big fish” under the Aquino administration could not be solely addressed to the executive because of the separation of powers among the three branches of government.

The job of the executive branch, through the Department of Justice, is to file charges and prosecute, with the cooperation of the Office of the Ombudsman if cases involved government officials, Coloma said.

He added the Supreme Court and the rest of the judiciary were in charge of improving the judicial system while the legislative branch was in charge of judicial reforms.

Coloma pointed out there were graft and corruption-related cases involving government officials that were resolved on the level of the ombudsman and many had been slapped with charges during Aquino’s term.