Villar quits DOJ post to campaign for husband

MANILA, Philippines — Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has resigned from her post to help in the senatorial campaign of her husband, former public works secretary Mark Villar.

Villar’s resignation will take effect on March 21, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced yesterday.

“She is not on terminal leave and will continue to work until her last day in office,” Guevarra said.

Villar will be replaced by chief state counsel George Ortha II as DOJ officer-in-charge undersecretary.

Guevarra wished Villar good luck as she focuses on the campaign of her husband.

During her stint in the DOJ, Villar showed a “passionate advocacy for the protection of women’s and children’s rights,” Guevarra said.

Villar was in charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the DOJ’s gender and special protections group, he said.

She was also in charge of the DOJ secretary’s legal staff.

She was a representative of the DIWA party-list in the House of Representatives before she was appointed to the DOJ in July 2018.