DeLimaShouldFiscalizeHerselfFirst

July16,2016at12:01am
VictorAvecilla/ManilaStandard

SenatorLeiladeLimahasfinallyacknowledgedherroleas
thedefenderofherformerboss,exPresidentBenignoAquino
III. Last week, De Lima decried the cases filed against
Aquino for his misuse of the controversial Development
AccelerationProgramfunds,andforhismismanagementofthe
infamousMamasapanomissionwhichresultedinthemassacre
of44policemeninMaguindanao. AccordingtoDeLima,the
casesareeitherpoliticallymotivatedordesignedtoharass
Aquino.
DeLimamaynotrealizeit,butshejustgaveherselfaway.
Since Aquinos lawyers have not received a copy of the
complaint,itisunlikelythatDeLimaacquiredonebefore
theydid. ThismeansthatDeLimaalreadyprejudgedthe
casesagainstAquinoinfavorofthelatter.Suchbehavior
isunbecomingofaformerjusticesecretarywho,asaquasi
judicial officer who evaluates appeals from criminal
prosecutions,isexpectedtoevaluatebothsidesofacase
judiciouslybeforearrivingataconclusion.
Since de Lima herself is in the mood for sweeping
conclusions,thentheconclusionthatdeLimaprejudgedthe
casesfiledintheDepartmentofJusticeduringherwatch
appearswarranted.
Moreover, de Lima should refrain from evaluating Aquinos
casesbecauseshelackstherequisiteimpartialitytomakea
fairevaluation.Aquino,afterall,isherexboss.
Aquinodoesnotseeminterestedinseekingpublicofficein
thepredictablefuture. Beingso,whydoesdeLimainsist
that the cases filed against Aquino as expresident are
politicallymotivated?
Days prior to his compulsory departure from Malacaang,
Aquinoannouncedthathewasnotafraidofgettingsuedwhen
heisnolongerpresident. Aquinoalsorevealedthathis
lawyers would get back at those who would charge him in
court. Undersuchcircumstances,howcandeLimasaythat

the cases against Aquino are designed to harass the ex

president?
Undoubtedly, de Lima is simply repaying her debt of
gratitudetoAquinowhoappointedhertotheDoJ,andwho
sponsored her senatorial candidacy under the proAquino
LiberalPartyduringtheMay2016polls.
Under de Limas watch, the DoJ was one of the most inept
government agencies. Thanks to de Limas inexcusable
failuretomonitortheprisonsunderherjurisdiction,drug
lords detained at the national penitentiary enjoyed
extraordinary perks like airconditioned cells, mobile
phones, personal computers, firearms, restaurantcatered
food,andliquor.
ItwasalsoduringdeLimaswatchwhenthefundsoftheDoJ
earmarked for a specific project were used for something
else.TheCommissiononAuditexposedthisanomaly.
ThebacklogofcasesintheDoJunderdeLimawashorrible.
Any practicing lawyer will confirm that unless one has
connections with de Lima, ones petition in the DoJ will
takeyearsbeforeitgetsresolved.WhendeLimawasatthe
helmoftheDoJ,mostcaseswerealreadymootandacademic
bythetimetheDoJgottoresolvethem.
SometimeafterthePhilippinessuedCommunistChinainthe
UNarbitrationcourtinHollandafterBeijingmadeillegal
territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea, President
AquinosentaPhilippinedelegationtoHollandtoattendthe
initialhearingthere. TheteamwasledbytheSolicitor
General,theSecretaryofForeignAffairs,andtheSecretary
ofNationalDefense.
Nonetheless, many government officials identified with
PresidentAquinogotthemselvesincludedinthatdelegation.
ThelistincludesdeLima,whowasthejusticesecretaryat
thattime.
Actually,deLimahadnobusinessbeinginthatdelegation.
Shehadnoroleinthearbitrationcaseitself,becausethe
Philippines was adequately represented in the case by the
Solicitor General and several American lawyers hired by
ManilafortheirexpertiseinInternationalLaw. Sincede

LimaisnotanexpertinInternationalLaw,shemusthave
gone sightseeing in Holland at government expense. Her
penchant for overseas trips paid for by taxpayers money
probablyexplainsthebacklogofcasesintheDoJduringher
watch.
Lastyear,theIglesianiCristoreligioussectorganizeda
mammothprotestrallyagainstdeLimaoutsidetheDoJhead
officeinManila,andlaterattheintersectionofEdsaand
ShawBoulevardinMandaluyong. TheINCdemandeddeLimas
resignation for her alleged undue interest in a case
involvinganINCminister,butdeLimarefusedtobudge.
PresidentAquinoeventuallyintervened,andafteraclosed
door meeting ensued between Malacaang and the INC, the
rallyistsdispersedvoluntarily. Surprisingly,bothsides
claimed that they did not concede anything to the other
side. AcuriouspublicpresseddeLimaforanexplanation
but she refused to do so. Up to today, de Lima never
explainedtothepublicwhathappened.
Theforegoinganomaliesnotwithstanding,Aquinoincludedde
Lima in the list of LP senatorial candidates for the May
2016polls.
DespiteherstrainedrelationswiththeINC,deLimastill
wenttotheINCheadtoseekhissupportforhersenatorial
bid.Hervisitwasreportedbythenewsmedia.
AlthoughtheINCdidnotsupportDeLimascandidacy,she
managedtowin,placinglastamongthe12winningcandidates
for senator. Nonetheless, many voters find de Limas
victory highly suspect in view of recent revelations that
theautomatedcanvassofthe2016pollswasriggedtofavor
candidatesoftheLP.
Last week, de Lima announced to the media that she would
fiscalize the Duterte administration for its alleged
disregardforhumanrights.Morespecifically,deLimasaid
she would protect civil liberties during the Duterte
presidency.SheeventoldDuterte,Iamwatchingyou.
BeforedeLimaappointsherselfasafiscalizer,sheshould
fiscalizeherselfbyexplainingwhynumerousanomaliestook
place in the DoJ during her tenure as justice secretary.

Right now, what de Lima deserves, other than getting

prosecutedincourtherself,istorepresentthehatedLPin
theSenate.