Vacancy in DOJ: Justiniano or Caguioa?

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has not yet decided on who will replace Secretary Leila de Lima at the Department of Justice (DOJ), but a source said the choice is between Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Benjamin Caguioa and Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano.

Caguioa was appointed to his post by Aquino in January 2013. He was a classmate of the President at the Ateneo de Manila University from grade school to college.

Justiniano, on the other hand, supervised the DOJ probe on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam. Appointed in 2013, he became prominent for defending American serviceman Daniel Smith in the 2005 Subic rape case.    

“As of last Friday, the President was still choosing between the two,” a Palace insider told The STAR, aside from confirming that Liberal Party stalwart and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. is no longer being considered for the post. 

De Lima, who will run for senator in 2016, would not confirm the information but admitted to submitting her recommendation to the President. She also would not say when the appointment might be expected.

Palace officers earlier said the President would not rush the appointment to Cabinet posts that will be vacated due to the May 2016 elections.