MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima urged the public not to prejudge President Benigno Aquino with respect to the conduct of his friend, Bureau of Corrections Director Ernesto Diokno, whose resignation is being called for after convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste was caught in his Makati office instead of in prison where he is supposed to be serving a 6-to-12-year sentence.
In a text message, De Lima said she trusts that Aquino “will do the right thing” once the fact-finding committee she created submits its investigation report on the Leviste incident to the President.
“I’m sure he will do the right thing at the proper time,” De Lima said. “First thing’s first. Let’s wait for the results of the fact-finding team.”
“Let’s not pre-empt, second guess or speculate on what the President will do relative to Director Diokno,” she added.
If she had her way, De Lima said she would have ordered Diokno’s immediate suspension since he admitted that he already knew of Leviste’s reported caper.
Although the Bureau of Corrections was under the administrative supervision of the justice department, she said, only the Office of the President has the authority to take disciplinary action against Diokno since he was a presidential appointee.
“But I can recommend to the President what to do on the basis of the results of the fact-finding investigation,” De Lima said.