Justice chief to probe prosecutors cited by Duterte for corruption

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said he would conduct his own investigation into prosecutors identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as under investigation for corruption.

In a text message to reporters on Thursday, Guevarra said an investigation would be conducted by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Internal Affairs Unit into the four National Prosecution (NPS) members named by Duterte as under probe.

The President ealier identified these four NPS members as DOJ Prosecutor Samina Sampaco Macabando-Usman, Pasay City Prosecutor Benjamin Lanto, Inquest Prosecutor Clemente Villanueva, and Assistant Prosecutor Florenzo dela Cruz.

READ: Duterte names at least 10 gov’t execs probed for corruption

“The complaint will most likely be filed with the Ombudsman, but it does not prevent the DOJ from conducting its own investigation through its Internal Affairs Unit,” Guevarra said.

“With or without any instruction from the President, I will commence our own internal investigation within the DOJ,” the Justice chief explained.

While Guevarra said that complaints were “likely” to be filed before Office of the Ombudsman against them, he explained that the DOJ internal affairs probe would focus on the administrative aspect of the case. /vvp