Philippines: DOJ chief’s confirmation must be rejected, not merely by-passed – Satur, Ka Bel

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo together with Anakpawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran today submitted before the Commission on Appointments their opposition to the confirmation of the appointment of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

“A person like Gonzalez who has no respect for the law and the rule of law is not fit for public office, much less, the Justice Department,” says Ocampo.

Ocampo and Beltran cited four bases of opposition and objection to Gonzalez’s confirmation.

1. Sec. Gonzalez used his public office to persecute his and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s political opponents;

2. Sec. Gonzalez violated the due process rights of complainants and other persons criminally charged before the DOJ by prejudging cases undergoing legal processes before his office;

3. Sec. Gonzalez has, as a public official, misused and abused his office to the detriment of the interest of the country and the embarrassment of the Filipino people, for his public pronouncements as Secretary of Justice; and,

4. Sec. Gonzalez not only exercised partisan politics in his official acts as Justice Secretary, but also exercised the same partisan politics in violation of election laws.

In their opposition, the party-list lawmakers cited the Supreme Court’s castigation of Gonzalez for preempting the findings of probable cause by subordinates and deciding on the basis of political considerations on the rebellion case filed against the Batasan 6.

In its June 1, 2007 decision, the High Court stated that: “Respondent Secretary of Justice, who exercises supervision and control over the panel of prosecutors, stated in an interview on 13 March 2006, the day of the preliminary investigation, that, “We [the DOJ] will just declare probable cause, then it’s up to the [Court] to decide x x x.” Petitioners raised this issue in their petition, but respondents never disputed the veracity of this statement. This clearly shows pre-judgment, a determination to file the Information even in the absence of probable cause.”