Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday National Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Edmundo Arugay has tendered a “courtesy resignation.”
De Lima said the resignation would be effective September 14 when Arugay returns from an official mission abroad.
Arugay’s resignation came after De Lima told the media that she was pertaining to three to four deputy directors who should have resigned instead of NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas.
Rojas, hurt by President Aquino’s statements to the Inquirer last week that tended to cast doubt on the NBI’s integrity, resigned on Monday.
Rojas’ “irrevocable resignation” came amid the NBI’s preparation to bring plunder charges against detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Earlier Tuesday De Lima said at least three to four deputy directors should be the ones thinking of quitting.
“I have an idea and itong some deputy directors na ito, napapansin ko palaging meron trust or integrity issues surrounding them, although puro lang naman mga balita or puro lang naman mga info na wala namang ebidensya,” De Lima said.
Speaking to reporters, she said she was still awaiting Aquino’s action on Rojas’ resignation.
De Lima said she would try again to convince Rojas to stay put even if Malacañang would make no action on his resignation letter.
“I’m trying still to convince him. I talked to him last night. Hindi ko pa nakukumbinse. I’ll try again later kung halimbawa wala pang aksyon ang Palace within today,” De Lima said.
Moreover, De Lima said that if Deputy Director Virgilio Mendez submits his resignation letter, she would also ask President Aquino to reject it.
On Monday De Lima said Rojas tendered his irrevocable resignation out of “delicadeza.”
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