The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) yesterday accused Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima of “double standard brand of justice” after the
Department of Justice (DOJ) failed to pursue cases against President
Aquino’s allies who were involved in the multi-billion peso Malampaya
Fund scam and in the P10-billion “pork barrel” fund scam.
UNA Interim President Toby Tiangco questioned De Lima’s sudden
interest in the Makati building controversy, claiming that the allies of
the President were behind the demolition job against Vice President
Jejomar Binay.
“It is deplorable that Secretary De Lima, who should administer
justice equally, is doing everything to protect the allies of the
Administration even beyond 2016. We are aware that members of the
Liberal Party who were recipients of the Malampaya Fund, PDAF and even
DAP, are being shielded from the investigation. This only goes to show
that De Lima is not keen in sending to jail allies of the President,” he
said in a statement.
He lamented that the 97 mayors who were recipients of the Malampaya
Fund were not investigated by the DOJ or by the National Bureau of
Investigation after they supposedly pledged their support for De Lima in
case she decides to seek higher officer in 2016
“Justice Secretary De Lima ironically is the epitome of the
prejudice, double-standard kind of justice and ulterior agendas. She
personifies the Administration’s mantra that ‘no one is above dilaw’,”
Tiangco said.
He lambasted the DOJ for not releasing its report on the $30-million
MRT3 extortion attempt by LP stalwart Wilson de Vera; and for not taking
action on the Napoles affidavit and PDAF list that implicated 18
senators and more than 100 congressmen.
“Why the inaction? The answer is simple: Because members of the LP
and other administration allies are included in the list, and this
includes one hypocritical senator-inquisitor,” Tiangco said.
He insisted that the 97 mayors allied with the President who were
involved in the Malampaya Fund scam should have been subpoenaed or
charged in court.
“Anong nangyari sa affidavit ni Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar na
hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa inilalabas ng NBI? Anong nangyari sa
affidavit at listahan ni Napoles na sangkot ang 18 senador at mahigit
100 congressman? Anong nangyari sa imbestigasyon sa Malampaya Fund scam
na halos puro politiko ng LP ang nakinabang? What made her switch
priorities and put so much interest in the Makati probe?” he asked.
Tiangco claimed that De Lima is part of the witch-hunt against Binay and his family.
“Secretary De Lima, like the three senator-inquisitors, have
pre-judged the matter. The NBI will not contradict their boss or issue
findings that will embarrass her. The NBI and the DOJ are now parties to
the witch-hunt,” he said.
De Lima was also criticized by UNA Secretary-General JV Bautista
after De Lima described Binay’s principal accuser, former Makati vice
mayor Ernesto Mercado, as a “credible whistle-blower.”
Bautista accused De Lima of using the NBI to “merely harass” the personalities identified with Binay.
“Even if the Senate issues an order of arrest against any of these
personalities, assuming they have been cited in contempt, De Lima cannot
use her NBI attack dogs to serve such order, since jurisprudence is
very clear that only the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms can do so,” he said.
“Besides, there is no crime determined yet by the Senate
sub-committee for the simple reason that there is still no committee
report. The DOJ has no place in this Senate investigation. Either De
Lima stops her acts of harassment using the NBI, or court remedies, as
well as disciplinary actions against her would now be called for,” he
added.
Former Justice Secretary-turned- 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre
Bello III, for his part, asked De Lima not to step in the mandate of the
Office of the Ombudsman to look into allegations against the Binays.
“They should leave the investigation to the Ombudsman which has the
primary jurisdiction over the case,” he stressed, insisting that Binay
is entitled to his right to due process.
Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, an UNA stalwart, agreed with Bello, saying that the legal process should prevail.
“Everyone is entitled to due process. This is what we have been
saying all along. Let’s stop this obviously politically motivated
process and let the legal processes take their course,” he said.
Meanwhile in Malacanang, Presidential Communications Operations
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. tried to steer away from the controversy
hounding Binay, saying President Aquino has already said his piece on
the matter.
All Coloma could say was the Palace respects Senator Miriam
Santiago’s statement about the possible impeachment of the Vice
President over corruption charges. The Palace official declined to
comment further.
