De Lima cautions Laude lawyer against bias allegation

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 10 years ago

Lawyer Harry Roque RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday cautioned the lawyer of the family of slain Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude about publicly accusing the lead prosecutor of being bias, saying it could be taken as an attempt to pressure the government to rule in their favor.

“Attorney Harry Roque should be careful in insinuating unfairness on (the part of the Department of Justice) and imputing bias or partiality on the part of (Olongapo) City Prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos without clear and sufficient basis to back up such claims,” De Lima said in a text message.

Delos Santos is the head of a panel of prosecutor handling the murder case against Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the US Marine accused of killing Laude.

“May I remind him (Roque) that the Laude-Pemberton case is now deemed submitted for decision at the preliminary investigation level,” she added.

De Lima said Delos Santos should be left alone in resolving the merits of the case.

“Publicly hurling accusations against CP (City Prosecutor) Delos Santos, which are at best sweeping, might be misconstrued as attempts to pressure Prosecutor Delos Santos and/or influence the outcome of the case, hence, unethical,” De Lima said.