Aguirre to ‘corrupt’ DOJ employees: ‘I will stop you’

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre warns corrupt officials and employees of his department to stop their illicit activities or face the ‘considerable power’of his office as he cleans up the agency. INQUIRER FILE

Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II warned “corrupt” officials and employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that he would fight them, amid alleged moves to oust him for his efforts to clean up the agency.

“If you are not with us in this war, then you are definitely against us. You are against President Duterte,” Aguirre said, referring to the order of the Chief Executive for him to stop drugs and corruption.

READ: Aguirre: Absolutely no corruption under new admin

In a speech during Monday’s flag ceremony at the DOJ, Aguirre said there were people in the department who were into corruption and were plotting to remove him from office.

“There are some disgruntled DOJ employees who want to derail President Duterte’s war on corruption. These misguided and tarnished employees are not in full accord with some of the actions undertaken by my office lately,” he said.

Aguirre warned that with Duterte’s blessing, “We shall adopt a zero tolerance policy for corrupt employees in the DOJ and all its attached agencies.”

“If you are corrupt, this is your last chance. Please stop it, just stop it,” the secretary stressed.

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If you shall persist, then I will use the considerable power of my office to hold you accountable. We will pursue you and we will prosecute you,” Aguirre said.

He then urged DOJ employees to help the government’s campaign.

“I will not, and I cannot, weed out corruption in other government offices, if our own backyard is dirty. We have to clean house first. There must be no white washed tomb in any office in the DOJ,” he said.

The justice chief said the DOJ would be adopting a business-like approach in pursuing erring officials and employees.

On alleged moves to remove him from office, Aguirre said, “I did not ask to be appointed to the DOJ. I will not even lose a single night’s sleep if this post is taken away from me. I might even be thankful if I am removed. Hindi tayo kapit tuko!”

He said those plotting his ouster could pursue their agenda but told them not to use government resources.

“I know that some of you have been meeting on government time and have been using government resources to plot my ouster. Henceforth, you can meet and you can plot, but never again on government time and never again using government resources.”

“Valuable government time and government resources must only be used to serve the interest of justice and of the Filipino people. It must never be used to hatch the self-serving plots of the corrupt few. Go against my proscription, and I will stop you!

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Aside from ordering an investigation on corrupt DOJ officials and employees, Aguirre also ordered random drug test for all. CBB/rga