De Lima: Government prosecutors ready for pork barrel scam case

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—”It’s basically propaganda noise.”

That’s how Justice Secretary Leila de Lima described the criticisms that government prosecutors are getting for allegedly being unprepared in the pork barrel scam case.

Speaking during the Daylight Dialogue in Malacañang on Tuesday, De Lima came to the defense of the Ombudsman against critics who claimed that its prosecutors were not ready in the legal battle over the pork barrel scam.

She defended government lawyers, saying the amendment it made after it already filed charges against lawmakers is a “matter of right.”

“Amendment is a matter of right. There is nothing wrong and suspicious,” she said.

She said the amendment was “just to clarify” parts of the charges filed.

She stressed that the information in the charges already filed were complete and strong.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, meanwhile, said her office is “just following what the constitution provides.”

Morales said they have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) for augmentation of lawyers to help them in the pork barrel scam case.

The DOJ confirmed it has provided them with three prosecution lawyers.

Daylight Dialogue is a forum composed of plenary talks that will “center on renewing trust in government, institutionalizing good governance, and citizen engagement.”