DOJ undersecretary leads Sandiganbayan bets

MANILA, Philippines–Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano is among those vying for the seat in the anti-graft court left vacant after the Supreme Court ousted Justice Gregory Ong for alleged links with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, suspected mastermind of the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Justiniano is a member of the prosecution panel in the cases against Napoles, senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and others accused of plunder before the Sandiganbayan.

The other recommendees and applicants for Sandiganbayan justice, according to a list released by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), are Assistant Solicitor General Sarah Jane Fernandez and regional trial court judges, Ofelia Calo and Esteban Tacla Jr. of Mandaluyong City; Cleto Villacorta of Baguio City; Kevin Vivero of Antipolo City; Armando Yanga of Manila; Cesar Aganon of Tarlac City; Gregorio dela Peña III of Zamboanga City; and Aurelio Ralar Jr. of Caloocan City.

The JBC, which screens candidates for judiciary positions and comes off with the final short list of nominees, scheduled psychological evaluation of the applicants and recommendees on Jan. 6, 7 and 26.

Justiniano was the former counsel of one of the four American soldiers accused in the 2005 Subic rape case. The lawyer also served as private prosecutor in the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2011.

Justiniano was a member of the Development Bank of the Philippines board prior to his appointment to the Department of Justice in August last year.

Currently, he is assisting the Office of the Ombudsman in prosecuting the PDAF cases.