Corruption, drug cases top priorities of Duterte admin—Aguirre

Corruption and drug cases will be among the top priorities under the administration of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, veteran lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, the incoming Justice Secretary said. PHOTO BY EDWARD GANAL / SENATE POOL

Corruption and drug clases will be among the top priorities under the administration of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte, said veteran lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, the incoming justice secretary.

“We will spare no one; we will investigate regardless of who is involved,” Aguirre, who was handpicked by Duterte, told reporters on Thursday.

READ: Lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre II is Duterte’s justice secretary

He also mentioned the cleansing of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and the continuing investigation of pork barrel cases as priorities of the incoming administration.

He said Duterte also gave him several instructions but refused to give details.

There are several controversial cases pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ), including the Mamasapano cases against members of armed groups in Mindanao, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups (PAGs), like the Tagum Death Squad, and the money laundering cases against individuals involved in the transfer of $80.9-million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank to the Philippines.

Acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas said he respected the decision of Duterte in apppointing Aguirre and wished him the best.

“We all should respect such decision. Whoever is chosen as the next Secretary of Justice, all I have for him is my very best wishes for a fruitful stint—all in the name of service to the Filipino people,” he said.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, head of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service, also welcomed Aguirre’s appointment.

“Atty. Aguirre has a vast experience in the practice of law and an esteemed member of the Bar and respected in the legal profession. We are elated to hear his appointment and we will give him our wholehearted support in his plans and programs to enhance the delivery of justice to our people,” he said in a text message to reporters.

Aguirre will head Duterte’s legal time once Congress starts canvassing the votes for president and vice president.

He was Duterte’s classmate and fraternity brother at the San Beda College law school and graduated at the top of his class. He passed the Bar in 1971 with a rating of 85.25 percent.

His father, the late municipal Mayor Alfaro Aguirre, was chairman of the Liberal Party for nearly 40 years.

Aguirre became prominent when he served as lead counsel of Hubert Webb in the Vizconde case. He also served as deputy counsel for the Feliciano Commission that conducted a fact-finding investigation into the 2003 Oakwood mutiny in 2003 involving Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other Magdalo soldiers.

He also became a household name after he was scolded by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago for covering his ears while the senator was talking. RAM/rga