Tag: Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre

SPPAAI expresses “alarm” over PACC recommendation to suspend, charge prosecutors who dismissed drug raps vs Espinosa, others

(Eagle News)–The State Prosecutors and Prosecution Attorneys Association Inc. (SPPAAI) expressed “alarm” over the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission’s request to place under preventive suspension the prosecutors who dismissed the charges against Kerwin Espinosa and others. In a statement, the group said the act of requesting  to also file administrative charges against Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John Humarang, officer in charge-Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rassendel Rex Gingoyon, Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan, and former Assistant State Prosecutor […]

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New DOJ panel summons Espinosa, others to probe slated next month

(Eagle News) — The new panel of prosecutors formed to review the complaint filed against Kerwin Espinosa and others has summoned all the parties in the case for the conduct of a preliminary investigation next month. The panel composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Noreen Devanadera, and prosecution attorney Herbert Calvin Abugan ordered respondents Espinosa, Peter Co, Peter Lim, Marcelo L. Adorco, Max Miro, Lovely Impal, Ruel Malindagan and […]

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Aguirre: No basis for PACC recommendation to suspend prosecutors in Espinosa case

(Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said there was no basis for the  Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s recommendation to suspend the prosecutors who dismissed the drug complaint against Kerwin Espinosa and others. According to Aguirre, “(the PACC does) not know the workings and procedure of the DOJ when conducting preliminary investigation.” Aguirre issued the statement days after he apologized to Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John Humarang,  Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon, […]

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Aguirre upholds indictment of Bohol official over wife’s killing

Says cases vs Boniel’s two alleged cohorts should also proceed (Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Tuesday reversed a justice undersecretary’s resolution that dismissed criminal charges against Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel and two others in connection with the killing of his wife in 2017. In upholding the indictment of Boniel, Willy Hoylar and Restituto Magoncia, Jr. for the death of then-Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel, Aguirre effectively granted the […]

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Aguirre apologizes to prosecutors being investigated over dismissal of drug raps vs Espinosa, others

(Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre apologized on Monday to the prosecutors he had ordered to be investigated following their decision to dismiss drug charges against Kerwin Espinosa and others. According to Aguirre, “extraordinary  times or extraordinary incidents call for extraordinary solutions or at least measures..,” even as he acknowledged that ordering the investigation of the panel composed of Aristotle Reyes, now a regional trial court judge; and Michael John Humarang was “wrong.” “Pasensiya na […]

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It is his discretion, Duterte says on Aguirre’s move to place Napoles under provisional WPP coverage

(Eagle News) — “Diskarte ‘yan niya.” President Rodrigo Duterte had this to say amid criticisms of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre’s treatment of Janet Lim Napoles, who has been provisionally admitted to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program. According to the President, in general, he leaves the discretion of managing departments to his Cabinet secretaries. “Hinayaan ko ‘yan sila (Cabinet secretaries),” he said. Aguirre has defended Napoles’ provisional admission to the program, noting that she […]

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Aguirre says he will not resign; I did nothing wrong, he says

(Eagle News) — I will not resign. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre had this to say on Tuesday, in response to calls he step down following the dismissal of drug charges against Kerwin Espinosa and others by his agency’s National Prosecution Office. “There’s no reason why I should resign because wala akong kasalanan..Hindi mo naman masasabing nalusutan (ako) kasi di pa nakakarating (sa opisina ko),” he said. He said at the time news about the matter […]

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Aguirre threatens to file libel case vs Hontiveros

(Eagle News)–Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said he was slated to file a libel complaint against Senator Risa Hontiveros “very soon.” Aguirre made the announcement after she called him a “manufacturer and peddler of fake news,” “a cook of fake cases,” and a “reliable friend of criminal masterminds, extrajudicial killers and drug lords” in a statement she issued on Monday. The statement was released following the Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service’s dismissal of drug charges […]

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Aguirre admits to meeting Napoles lawyer but denies he gave him legal advice

Says Napoles, as “co-conspirator” in crime of plunder that targets public officials, is eligible for WPP (Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Tuesday admitted that he and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea met with Janet Lim Napoles’ lawyer in Malacanang. But in a press conference in the Palace, Aguirre said there was never a time during the meeting he and Medialdea provided legal advice to Stephen David. He said they only talked about Napoles’ […]

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Roque: Aguirre still enjoys President Duterte’s trust

  (Eagle News) — The Palace on Thursday said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre still enjoys the President’s trust and confidence. This was despite calls for Aguirre to quit, following a Department of Justice prosecution panel’s dismissal of drug charges against self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim and others. Aguirre has denied any hand in the drafting of the December 2017 resolution, noting that it was in fact subject to automatic review by him.   […]

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Aguirre: Palace, health and justice departments agree PAO’s Erfe is a medico-legal officer, not a pathology expert

Foreign pathologist’s opinion on deaths of suspected Dengvaxia victims needed, Aguirre says (Eagle News) — Erwin Erfe, chief of the Department of Justice’s Public Attorneys Office, is a medico-legal officer and not a pathology expert. The Palace, Department of Health and the DOJ came to this conclusion in a meeting to determine how the Dengvaxia issue should be handled, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said. According to Aguirre, as such, Erfe’s opinion on the Dengvaxia deaths should […]

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NBI, tutulong na rin ulit sa PDEA sa war on drugs

(Eagle News) – Muling tutulong ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sa mga anti-illegal drug operations ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Ayon kay Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, naglabas na siya ng Department Order upang atasan ang NBI na ipagpatuloy na ang kanilang mga anti-illegal drug operations. Ginawa ito ng kalihim isang araw matapos ibalik naman ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang Philippine National Police (PNP) at iba pang mga law enforcement agencies sa kampanya kontra […]

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