Aguirre cites DOJ accomplishments during last flag-raising ceremony as justice secretary

Resigned Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre speaks during his last flag-raising ceremony as head of thr DOJ on Tuesday, April 10. /DOJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes/

(Eagle News)–Resigned Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre listed down his accomplishments before  leaving office on Tuesday, April 10.

In his last flag-raising ceremony as justice secretary, Aguirrre said “in less than two years,” the Department of Justice has achieved:

“1. The grant of the long-requested and long sought 30-day Forfeitable Wellness Leave to prosecutors;
2. The procurement and distribution of one (1) brand new laptop each per prosecutor;
3. The groundbreaking of the DOJ Academy and Training Center in Tagaytay City;
4. The groundbreaking of the DOJ Administration Building at the DOJ Main Office in Padre Faura, Manila;
5. The groundbreaking of the DOJ Building for the DOJ family in the Province of Quezon in Lucena City;
6. The groundbreaking of the DOJ Building for the DOJ Family in Region II in Tuguegarao City;
7. The groundbreaking of the DOJ Building for the DOJ Family in Virac, Catanduanes; and
8. The signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the future site of a DOJ Building for the Davao Region in Davao City with the local government of Davao City headed by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte;”

He said the DOJ was also able to ensure:

“9. The construction of the DOJ Regional Building in Cebu City;

10. The marked improvement of the benefits received by prosecutors and the DOJ proper employees under Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) for the years 2016 and 2017;
11. The revision, updating and distribution of the 2017 Edition of the Manual for Prosecutors;
12. The revision and updating of the DOJ Bail bond guide;
13. The successful and the all inclusive celebration of DOJ@120 Years anniversary in the NCR and in the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for all DOJ proper employees;
14. The procurement and the distribution of the following equipment to all DOJ regional, provincial and city offices to address the acute shortage of office equipment which hinders the effective rendition of key services to the public, 47 units of Ineo 287 Copiers, 37 units of Sharp photocopiers, 720 units of Epson L485 printers, 321 units of Epson L4160 printers,232 units of Epson Dot Matrix printers, 614 units of HP Desktop personal computers and 200 units of Fujitsu Document scanners, 630 Dell Desktop Computers and 50 motorcycles and;
15. The increase of our DOJ Provident Fund from Php 122,400.00 to Php 57,352,271.00 as of December 31, 2017.”

“We have achieved this by hard work and indomitable faith in the protection, providence and guidance of the Almighty. Let us continue praying to Him for the DOJ,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre, who has been at the helm of the DOJ for 645 days, also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte once again “for the trust and the confidence he reposed on me as his first Secretary of Justice and for his support in allowing us to achieve what we have done.”

“As they say, no tearful goodbyes but always a joyful hello and a blessed see you again!” Aguirre said.