MANILA – Vitaliano Aguirre II has resigned as Justice secretary but not without rebuke from several senators.
President Rodrigo Duterte has announced during awarding ceremonies for outstanding farmers and fisherfolk in Malacañang on Thursday that he has accepted Aguirre’s resignation.
His incompetence tarnished Aguirre’s credibility, according to Paolo Benigno Aquino IV.
“The Filipino people deserve a credible, capable and respectable Justice secretary who will lead with integrity and rebuild our trust in the Department of Justice,” said Aquino.
“Muli nating ibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa DOJ bilang tanggapan na nagtataguyod ng hustisya para sa bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa mga walang kalaban-laban,” he added.
Aguirre’s resignation was “too late the hero for justice zero,” said Risa Hontiveros.
Aguirre turned DOJ into “a leading purveyor of fake news, a manufacturer of fake legal cases to harass the opposition, and a refuge for drug lords, plunderers, and other high-profile criminals,” she said.
And his departure from office was a “clear victory against injustice and impunity,” said Hontiveros.
Aguirre came under fire when the Justice department dismissed, due to lack of sufficient evidence, charges against self-confessed drug lords who admitted their involvement in the drug trade, among other issues.
He submitted his resignation letter on Thursday. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra replaced him.
Aguirre should be held accountable “if abuses or oversight were committed” during his term at the Justice department, said Grace Poe.
“Hindi maaaring kapag napaso sa publiko, papalitan na lang nang walang kaparusahan o pagkastigo man lang,” she said.
Moreover Aguirre’s departure, according to Poe, “proves one constant in the Cabinet appointment – pwede kang ma-endo anytime by the President.”
“One minute you are the lord in your little kingdom, the next minute, you are clearing your desk,” she said.
For Juan Edgardo Angara, Aguirre made the “right move” in stepping down.
“Many of his department’s recent decisions tended to put the administration, wittingly or unwittingly, in an unfavorable light,” said the senator.
According to Angara, Aguirre’s departure will give Duterte “a chance to make a fresh start at the DOJ.”
“It is important for the public to see the department as a trustworthy pillar of the country’s justice system,” he added./PN
