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[av_heading heading=’Trillanes objects Aguirre appointment’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Thursday, February 16, 2017
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MANILA – Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV on Wednesday blocked Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s confirmation before the Commission on Appointments.
Reading his opposition before the committee, Trillanes claimed that Aguirre used his position to “persecute” and “pin down” those who dissent from the government.
He gave “unwarranted benefits” to the high-profile inmates who testified against Sen. Leila de Lima at the congressional inquiry into the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison, the former Navy official said.
According to the senator, the DOJ secretary allowed convicted prisoners to enjoy “lavish lifestyles” at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Detention Center in Camp Aguinaldo.
Trillanes also said that Aguirre has been “impatient, unrestrained, and intemperate in his manner and language.”
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, called for an indefinite suspension of Aguirre’s confirmation, saying that he should first provide a “thorough” and “satisfactory” explanation on the controversies he is alleged involved with.
She also wants the DOJ chief to explain the alleged special treatment given to convicted drug lords and Wally Sombrero’s trip abroad despite the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order against him.
“Why is the Justice secretary giving special privileges to convicted drug traffickers? Did her allow Wally Sombrero to leave the country? Why did the Justice secretary put himself in a situation that allowed the likes of Jam Lam to try to bribe him? What is the extent of his knowledge regarding his commissioners’ extortion activities?” Hontiveros said.
Meanwhile, Aguirre apologized to Trillanes for his “sundalong kanin” and “gagong senador” remarks against the senator, who earlier accused him of being involved in the alleged bribery scandal in the Bureau of Immigration.
“Due to the pressure and volume of my work, I might have hurt people in my choice of words and for that I profusely apologize specifically to Senator Trillanes,” the Justice secretary said./PN
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