Aguirre ready to face De Lima raps ‘in any forum’

Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Saturday said he was ready to face the cases filed against him by detained Sen. Leila de Lima, whom he described as “trying to be relevant.”

De Lima on Thursday filed criminal and administrative charges against Aguirre before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The senator sued Aguirre for violations of the Revised Penal Code in the following provisions — Article 208 (Negligence in Prosecution and Toleration of Criminal Offenses), Article 286 (Grave Coercion), Article 172.2 (Use of Falsified Documents), Article 184 (Offering False Testimony), and Article 239 (Usurpation of Legislative Powers) of the Revised Penal Code.

READ: De Lima sues Aguirre, accuses him of stopping prosecution of EJK suspects

Aguirre was also sued for committing graft for violating Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“She is just trying to be relevant. Unlike her who has consistently anchored her defense on bare denials and nothing more, we can refute her accusations with well-established proof of actions taken,” Aguirre said in a statement.

De Lima is currently detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City over the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison during her term as justice secretary. Aguirre led the filing of cases against the senator.

READ: De Lima in deeper trouble, says Aguirre

“And unlike her, who has consistently refused to recognize the jurisdiction of our courts over her in the drug cases she is currently facing, I will face her accusations against me in any forum,” Aguirre said.

“I will follow what our laws or rules state on jurisdiction and will not challenge it because I know I have not done anything wrong,” he added. IDL