If abuses are committed, they “cannot claim immunity from having to account for them,” Poe says
(Eagle News) — Three senators hailed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre’s resignation, with one saying it only proves no one is safe in President Rodrigo Duterte’s official family.
“Pwede kang ma-endo anytime by the President…Whether the exit was graceful or unceremonious, one thing is also certain — the actions undertaken by the resigned official while in office can be assessed and if abuses or oversight were committed, he cannot claim immunity from having to account for them,” Senator Grace Poe said in a statement.
“One minute you are the lord in your little kingdom, the next minute, you are clearing your desk,” she added.
Senator Bam Aquino said the opposition was one with the administration that Aguirre had to go.
He said in the eyes of the people, “pawala na nang pawala ang kredibilidad ni dating Justice Secretary Aguirre sa bawat kapalpakan at palihis na kilos nito.”
“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 said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros agreed.
She said, however, that Aguirre’s resignation came “too late.”
The President’s acceptance of his resignation, on the other hand, she said, was “a sorry attempt on the part of the President to save face despite Aguirre’s repeated fiascos.”
The President announced he had accepted the resignation of Aguirre, his fraternity brother and the head of his legal team during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Prior to this, speculation had been rife he would be the next to be axed, after the President expressed displeasure over the Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service’s dismissal of drug charges against Kerwin Espinosa and others.
Aguirre was also linked to the P50-million bribery scandal involving resigned immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles.
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra was named the new justice secretary.