Aguirre will prosecute criminals, high gov’t officials—Bayan

Incoming Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. PHOTO BY EDWARD GANAL / SENATE POOL

Incoming Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre will be facing a “formidable tasks” of prosecuting not only criminal syndicates but also former high-ranking government officials for corruption and human rights violation, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Thursday said.

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

“He will be expected to lead in the prosecution not just of criminal syndicates but also of high government officials implicated in large-scale corruption and human rights violations under the Aquino regime,” Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr. said in a text message.

“Cases are already expected to be filed against them by various citizens groups,” Reyes added.

READ: Corruption, drug cases top priorities of Duterte admin—Aguirre

Bayan said they are expecting that with the appointment of Aguirre, the practice of filing trumped-up charges against government critics will stop.

“May we see an end to selective prosecution. May rights victims finally achieve the justice they have long been fighting for,” he added. RAM