Noy hit over sacking of top prosecutor

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers of the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday expressed dismay over President Aquino’s decision to fire Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit because of the controversial plea bargaining agreement between government prosecutors and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

“So tragic, so despotic, grabe,” a lawyer told The STAR yesterday after hearing the news that Malacañang issued a dismissal order against the chief of the Office of the Ombudsman’s prosecutorial arm that handles cases against high-ranking public officials filed before the Sandiganbayan.

Another Ombudsman lawyer said Malacañang should not put the blame on the ranking prosecutor who was only doing her job of protecting the interest of the state.

“She was officer-in-charge at that time. And she acted on it (plea bargaining agreement) as part of ordinary course of official matters,” the government lawyer explained.

“From what I know, she did not give any instructions to the handling deputy special prosecutors with regard to the case. The plea bargaining agreement was a course of action suggested by handling prosecutors. It just so happened that she was the one who approved prior to (former Ombudsman Merceditas) Gutierrez,” the lawyer added.

“We’re shocked and saddened by the news. Others are angry. We have no work at OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor) today so we are calling each other (by phone),” another government lawyer said.

“There was no proof of corruption in the plea bargaining agreement. Kawawa naman si SP (special prosecutor),” the prosecutor added, expressing pity for Sulit and fearing that the worse is yet to come.

“Good people, seasoned prosecutors handled the plea bargaining agreement. How about the handling lawyers at the bottom? Dreadful,” said another Ombudsman lawyer.

“Imagine how people feel now? Hard not to be emotional,” the prosecutor added, noting that Sulit’s family is probably devastated by Aquino’s decision.

The STAR reported on Monday that unimpeachable sources confirmed over the weekend that Sulit has been dismissed from government service and President Aquino intends to announce the same in his State of the Nation Address.

Gutierrez, who resigned from her post in 2011, was also pressured to step down because of the Garcia plea bargaining agreement, which the Sandiganbayan special second division approved.