2 top DOJ prosecutors reassigned to provinces

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has reassigned two high-ranking state prosecutors from the capital to the provinces to disrupt the “rhythm of corruption” in the Department of Justice (DOJ) amid moves by disgruntled employees who wanted him kicked out of office.

Aguirre signed a Department Order on Nov. 14 deploying Deputy Senior State Prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr. as Officer in Charge of the Office of Provincial Prosecutor in Compostela Valley and Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva as Officer in Charge of the Office of Provincial Prosecutor in Guimaras.

Gudio used to chair the DOJ Task Force on Tax Fraud Cases while Villanueva was the prosecutor who dismissed all illegal drug charges against Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, which the DOJ later reversed under Aguirre’s watch in favor of petitioners Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority and Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group.

“There are so many reports of corruption at the DOJ. These reassignments do not point to anybody in particular, I am just exercising my prerogative because I want to disrupt the rhythm of corruption,” Aguirre told a press conference on Monday afternoon.

He said that the change of assignment was just temporary and would be reviewed after three months.

Aguirre reiterated his zero-tolerance policy on corruption in his department during a speech at the Monday morning flag ceremony in his department where some employees wore black armbands to protest the transfer of their colleagues.

“They act as if they have a vested right in their position and could not be assigned anywhere. That is not right. I am the alter ego of the President and under the law I have the prerogative to do that,” he said in a press conference on Monday.
In his flag ceremony speech, Aguirre said some “misguided and tarnished” employees were plotting to oust him from office during government time and using government resources.

He said he already identified these employees and would ask them to explain their actions.