Meddling in DOJ cases? Chief finds allegation ‘amusing’
An anti-corruption group on Wednesday accused acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas of meddling in cases pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to favor certain parties.
Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment (FATE) at a press conference said their group received information that Caparas even asked some prosecutors to go on a forced leave.
“Weeks before President-elect [Rodrigo] Duterte will be in office, Caparas is scrambling to rewrite decisions. We strongly denounce his meddling in cases,” said FATE’s Jo Perez.
“Justice Secretary Caparas’ moves are fishy. Is he favoring certain parties to cases?” Perez asked.
She said there has to be an investigation once Duterte assumes office.
Caparas meanwhile found the allegations of FATE amusing.
“This [allegation] is very amusing. What they claim is all untrue,” Caparas said in a text message.
The acting Justice Chief said he never meddled in any of the cases being handled by any prosecutor or under review by the undersecretaries.
“There has never been any ‘meddling’ (whatever that means) nor any instruction from me or my office to anyone in DOJ to take forced leaves,” Caparas added.
He said he is wondering who is or are the people behind the said group. RAM
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