Guevarra: DOJ has done well under Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Secretary Menardo Guevarra believes the Department of Justice (DOJ) which he heads has done a good job in upholding the rule of law and balancing the interests of the people and the country during the Duterte administration.

“Going by the result of an independent survey last year showing that the DOJ obtained the highest trust rating among the departments in the executive branch, I believe that the DOJ has done pretty well in upholding the rule of law and balancing the interests of the state and the citizenry,” Guevarra said.

“I think it’s the people who should evaluate how the DOJ has performed during this administration,” he added.

Guevarra’s appointment is coterminous with that of President Duterte, whose term will end on June 30. President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed 7th District Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla as Guevarra’s replacement.

Asked if they considered the prosecution of opposition Sen. Leila de Lima as among DOJ’s achievements under Duterte’s watch, Guevarra said the case was already pending in court when he was appointed as chief.

It is only the court, he explained, that has the final say on whether De Lima’s prosecution was justified.

“As justice secretary, however, it is my duty under the law to see to it that the interests of the people, whom the prosecution represents, are protected as much as the rights of the accused,” he said.

De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since Feb. 24, 2017 over her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison during the time she was serving as DOJ secretary under the administration of the late president Benigno Aquino III.

Several witnesses against her, however, have recanted their testimonies on her alleged involvement with drugs.