Leave prosecutor alone, lawyer told

Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude. ALLAN MACATUNO / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday warned the lawyer of the family of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude against publicly accusing State Prosecutor Emilie Fe Delos Santos of bias, saying such statements could be taken as attempts to pressure her and influence the outcome of the case.

De Lima scored lawyer Harry Roque for accusing Delos Santos of partiality, saying he had no proof to back up his allegations.

“Atty. Harry should be careful in insinuating unfairness on DOJ’s (Department of Justice) part and imputing bias or partiality on the part of [Delos Santos] without clear and sufficient basis to back up such claims,” De Lima said in a statement.

“Publicly hurling accusations against [Delos Santos], which are at best sweeping, might be misconstrued as attempts to pressure [her] and/or influence the outcome of the case, hence, unethical,” she said.

Delos Santos is the Olongapo city prosecutor handling the preliminary investigation of the murder charges filed against US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton in connection with Laude’s Oct. 11 slay.

Proceedings wrapped up last month and the case has been submitted for resolution.

In media interviews earlier this week, Roque said he would seek Delos Santos’ disqualification from the case, citing her “antagonistic” stance against the Laude family’s private lawyers and her supposed loyalty to the Americans.

‘No basis for inhibition’

He also expressed concerns over comments that Prosecutor General Claro Arellano had made about his inhibition call, saying the DOJ seemed to have already made a decision while he has yet to formally file the disqualification request.

Arellano had said that there was there was “no basis for inhibition” as the Laude camp’s “claim of bias [against Delos Santos] is mere allegation.”

In response, De Lima said Delos Santos “should be left alone.”

“May I remind him (Roque) that the Laude/Pemberton case is now deemed submitted for decision at the preliminary investigation level or the level of [Prosecutor Delos Santos]. The latter should be left alone in resolving the merits of said case,” the justice chief said.

She also defended Arellano, saying the latter merely made a “general statement.”

“What happened here is that the media was asking for my and PG’s reaction to such announced plan of Harry,” said De Lima.

“I opted not to comment on that. Apparently, PG did by making a general statement that there is no basis or reason to disqualify [Delos Santos]. So, what’s wrong with that? Is Harry denying that he made such a public call for the recusement of [Delos Santos],” she said.