Press Release
July 17, 2017

Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on SOJ Vitaliano Aguirre's response to criminal and administrative charges she filed vs him
Dispatch from Crame No. 113

17 July 20

Unlike Aguirre who filed criminal cases against me before courts without jurisdiction, I filed the criminal complaint against him before the Office with the proper jurisdiction, i.e., the Office of the Ombudsman.

This is what jurisdiction is all about. One does not choose the office, court or tribunal he wishes, even one without jurisdiction, just for the sake of railroading manufactured criminal charges, and non-bailable at that.

It is without doubt that the charges filed against him find concrete basis in facts that are even of public knowledge. His shenanigans and incompetence as SOJ are already legendary. He probably holds the record for being the worst SOJ in the history of the DOJ. He cannot possibly think that he can keep on committing these irregularities and irresponsible accusations against members of the opposition without being held accountable one of these days.

That day has come. Unlike his Boss Duterte, Aguirre is not an impeachable official. He is also not immune from suit. It is time he face the power of the Ombudsman to discipline and prosecute notoriously undesirable government officials like him. Before the Office of the Ombudsman, Aguirre knows he is fair game. His false bravado cannot save him from this stark reality.

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